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Putin offers condolences to Bush

MOSCOW, Russia -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has telephoned George W. Bush to pass on his country's condolences on the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Putin told Bush: "I want to reiterate my condolences and express not only the sympathy but also the support of the whole Russian people to Americans," the Associated Press reported. "In Russia, they say that time cures, but we cannot forget. We must not forget."

Putin was speaking from the southern resort of Sochi, where he is on a working holiday. Part of his conversation was broadcast on Russian state television.

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The Russian leader became a staunch ally of Bush immediately after the attacks, visiting the U.S. president in Texas, then allowing Washington to use Russian airspace for humanitarian flights and station U.S. troops in some of the former Soviet republics in central Asia. (Full story)

One year on, the relationship has been strained by Russia's relations with Iraq.

But Putin said Russia and the U.S. shared a common fight against terrorism. "Recently we commemorated those who were killed in a string of blasts in apartment buildings in Moscow three years ago. And today we are also remembering those who died in Washington and New York a year ago."

Putin's call was the first Bush received from another world leader on Wednesday. They did not discuss Iraq during the televised part of the conversation.

On Wednesday at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Marine guards lowed the Stars and Stripes to half-staff, visitors laid flowers outside the main building and the Star-Spangled Banner was broadcast over a loudspeaker. Security officers scanned the flowers with metal detectors.

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