Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Ingushetia on Tuesday in connection with Monday night's attack of rebels.

He came from Nazran to Magas by helicopter and met with Ingush President Murat Zyazikov, who spoke about the current situation and assistance to families of the dead and sufferers in the attack of rebels. The meeting lasted for an hour.

Then Putin met with his representative in the southern federal district Vladimir Yakovlev to discuss assistance to Ingushetia. A conference attended by Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev, Yakovlev, Zyazikov, Deputy Prosecutor General in the southern federal district Sergei Fridinsky, Deputy Interior Minister Alexander Chekalin and commander of the North Caucasian military district Vladimir Boldyrev followed.

Putin admitted that the federal authorities "have not done enough for protecting the republic."

"I think it is obvious to everyone what is happening. This is another attempt -- similar things have happened before -- to intimidate Ingushes and the republican administration, and destabilize South Russia, including the Caucasus. This attempt failed. I want you to convey gratitude to the unit, which had the fighting at night, and tell them that they behaved courageously, did not retreat and did their best to thwart rebels' goals. Judging by what we see here, the federal authorities have not done enough to protect the republic," Putin said.

"I have given instructions in Moscow, and I will repeat that an interior regiment will be stationed in Nazran, and security of the airport will be tightened in cooperation with the defense ministry," he said.

"It is necessary to solve this crime rapidly," Putin said. "It is necessary to find the organizers and the doers. They will be searched for as long as necessary, but their culpability must be proven."

However, the police must not use unfounded methods. Law enforcers "must comply with the law under any circumstances," Putin said.

He said it was also necessary to give assistance to sufferers and restore damaged buildings as soon as possible. "The president [of Ingushetia] together with the chairman of the Russian government, to whom I have just spoken, must do their best to help families of the dead and all sufferers. All law-enforcement departments must rapidly restore buildings and facilities damaged in the last night��s clash," Putin said.

According to the updated information, the incident killed over 57 and wounded about 60.

Putin also met with Ingushetia elders and muftis, and North Ossetian President Alexander Dzasokhov before his departure from Ingushetia.

Source: Agencies