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Russia celebrates WWII victory
09/05/2008 14:27 - (SA)
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| Russian armoured personnel roll through the Moscow Red Square in the annual Victory Day parade. (Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool, AP) |
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Moscow - Nuclear missiles and tanks paraded across Red Square on Friday for the first time since the Soviet era in a World War II victory celebration, highlighting Russia's assertiveness under new President Dmitry Medvedev.
Marching bands and 8 000 troops goose-stepped across the square, followed by a huge display of heavy weapons including Topol-M ballistic missiles and T-90 tanks, and a fly-by of warplanes.
Reviewing his first parade as commander in chief, Medvedev warned against "irresponsible ambitions" that he said could spark war across entire continents.
Alongside the new president was his mentor and now prime minister, Vladimir Putin, standing under bright sunshine in a tribune in front of Lenin's Mausoleum.
The show of strength on the 63rd anniversary of victory against Nazi Germany symbolised Moscow's growing boldness following eight years of rule by Putin, whose hawkish policies have set Russia at loggerheads with Western capitals.
Medvedev, who was inaugurated on Wednesday, is a close ally of Putin and had been his aide for much of the last two decades.
<>'Medvedev will be a weak president'
Many analysts believe that Medvedev, 42, will be a weak president reliant on the support of Putin, 55, who on Thursday became prime minister. Other observers say the untested Medvedev will grow into the presidency, which carries huge powers in Russia - as symbolised by the Red Square parade.
Earlier Putin said the parade was not "sabre-rattling" but "a demonstration of our growing defence capability".
The commemoration came after Washington on Thursday said Moscow had expelled two of its diplomats.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates dismissed the move as "just the usual tit for tat" in response to Washington's expulsion of a Russian spy.
On Tuesday Pentagon spokesperson Geoff Morrell poured scorn on the Moscow parade: "If they wish to take out their old equipment and take it for a spin, and check it out, they're more than welcome to do so."
Tensions with the US have been particularly high over Russia's pro-Western neighbour Georgia, which has received US backing for its bid to join the NATO military alliance.
On Thursday Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said his country and Russia had come close to war "several days ago" after Russia ramped up support for separatists controlling Georgia's Abkhazia region.
Festive atmosphere
But on the streets of Moscow, the atmosphere was festive for one of the country's best-loved holidays.
Veterans were shown with chests loaded down with medals, some young soldiers were dressed in World War II uniforms, complete with old-fashioned rifles and red stars on their helmets.
Ahead of the parade the cobbles of Red Square were specially reinforced to cope with tanks and other heavy weaponry, while the Kommersant newspaper said nearby subway tunnels had been reinforced to prevent them collapsing.
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