"The fact that one of the terrorist organizations linked with al-Qaida has claimed responsibility for the explosions on two planes once again confirms the links between destructive elements in the territory of Chechnya and international terrorism," Putin was quoted by Itar-Tass news agency as saying.

    Itar-Tass earlier reported that a group known as the "Islambouli Brigades" had claimed responsibility for the crashes. The group had said on an Islamic guerrilla website that the crashes were linked to events in Chechnya.

    Following talks with French President Jacques Chirac and GermanChancellor Gerhard Schroeder at his residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Putin linked the crashes to al-Qaida and again confirmed that the two jets were brought down by explosions although the official final report on causes of the crashes has yet to be made public.

    Russian officials said traces of explosive have been found in the wreckage of the two planes which crashed almost simultaneouslylast Tuesday night, killing 90 people on board.

    Investigators suspect that two female Chechen passengers -- oneon each aircraft -- might have been responsible for bringing down the planes.

    Putin said the threat of international terrorism is not diminishing despite the efforts of the world community to combat it and called for greater worldwide anti-terrorist efforts.

    "Russia favors the formation of anti-terrorist institutions in the framework of the United Nations," said Putin.

    "The latest developments in Iraq and other parts of the world have confirmed that virtually all countries in the world are facing this threat," the president added.