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Medvedev: Uprisings in Arab World Will Never Happen in Russia

   VOA News  February 22, 2011
   Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, left, February. 22, 2011

Photo: AP

   Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, left, February. 22, 2011

   Russian  President  Dmitry  Medvedev says the kind of uprisings taking
   place  in  the  Middle  East  and  North  Africa could never happen in
   Russia,  warning that the revolts risk bringing Islamist "fanatics" to
   power.
   Mr. Medvedev's comments at a security meeting Tuesday sharply contrast
   with  European countries' support for the pro-democracy protesters. He
   spoke  in  Russia's  Northern  Caucasus  region, where Russia has been
   fighting a deadly Islamist rebel insurgency. Â
   The  Russian  president said the Arab nations' uprisings could lead to
   decades  of  "fires" spreading Islamic extremism, adding that the Arab
   rebellions  could  have a "direct effect" on the situation in Russia.Â
   He  said  a  similar  scenario  would not succeed in his country.  No
   further details were available.
   Protesters calling for reform have brought down governments in Tunisia
   and  Egypt,  and have sparked unrest in Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, Morocco
   and Jordan.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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References

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