Russian investigators have announced that explosives were found on both
planes that crashed with the loss of 90 lives last week, focusing attention on
the roles of two dead female passengers believed to be of Chechen origin.
The Russian press was quick to paint the pair as the
latest in a line of female suicide bombers from the strife-torn Caucasus
republic, citing their suspected ethnic origins and the fact that no relatives
have come forward to claim their remains.
The two women are believed to be Amanta Nagayeva and
S. Jebirkhanova. The presumed remains of Nagayeva, found widely scattered over
the crash site, have been sent to Moscow to check for traces of Hexogen.
Reports say S. Jebirkhanova bought her ticket at the
last moment and was the last passenger to board her flight.
On Friday, an Islamic militant group allegedly called
the Islambouli Brigade claimed responsibility for the crashes.
