Putin says North Caucasus extremism finished

Extremists still carry out terrorist acts in the North Caucasus, but their time is nearly up, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday, ITAR-TASS reports. In his speech at a "United Russia" conference he said that extremists hide behind political aims but are in fact nothing more than criminal gangs. "We will protect the lives, rights and property of our citizens by all means necessary", Putin said.