JURIST - Paper Chase: Russian parliament proposes new anti-terrorism laws

Russia's Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament, framed proposals for new anti-terrorism laws Monday, the same day an inquiry into the Beslan school siege that killed more than 320 hostages began. The new law would deal out tougher punishments for people who finance or collude with terrorists, would better define terrorist threats, would call for a full inventory of weapons used by security forces. Council members also proposed amendments to existing legislation concerning security and law enforcment bodies.

The laws must still be approved by the State Duma (the Russian lower house) and signed into law by President Vladimir Putin. Just last week, Putin announced a major shake-up of the electoral system in Russia in an effort to boost Kremlin power (see the previous report on this story on JURIST's Paper Chase). Mosnews.com has background on the Beslan hostage crisis. Reuters has more.