Russia Bars ABC Over Interview

Will Not Renew Accreditation For Network After Chechen Interview

(CBS/AP)  "I think we believe that ABC as well as all other members of the media should have the opportunity for freedom of expression and have the right to report as they see fit," Casey said.

The editorial in the Moscow Times also said: "Ivanov's harsh response should have little effect on ABC. While Ivanov has recently taken steps to open up his ministry, its officials remain notoriously tight-lipped with reporters, especially those who are foreigners."

On Friday, the Foreign Ministry summoned a top U.S. diplomat to protest the interview with Basayev, who has claimed responsibility for some of Russia's most terrifying terrorist attacks, including last year's hostage seizure at the school in Beslan, which ended in the deaths of more than 330 children and adults.

In the interview conducted by Russian journalist Andrei Babitsky, Basayev, who has a $10 million bounty on his head, said he was plotting more attacks.

Among other attacks, Basayev has been linked to a 2002 hostage-taking assault on a Moscow theater that left 170 people dead, a 2003 suicide attack in the Moscow subway that killed 41 people, and a 2003 double suicide bombing at a Moscow rock concert that killed 17 people.

On Sunday, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said he was barring military personnel from contact with ABC and said the ministry now considered the network "persona non grata."

The ministry also suggested that the U.S.-funded Radio Liberty, whom Babitsky works for, would face new scrutiny.

"It's also worth nothing that in Moscow attention has been paid to the fact that the interview with the terrorist was conducted by A. Babitsky, a Radio Liberty staffer, in violation of the Russian law, without a corresponding accreditation," the ministry said. "Circumstances of organizing and receiving this interview are yet to be cleared with his employer."

In previous reports from Chechnya, Babitsky has focused on human rights abuses by Russian troops. Russian authorities have accused him of being a Chechen sympathizer.