Tuesday, November 8 2005 16:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jerusalem: Russia is mulling the construction of a security barrier along its border with Chechnya similar to Israel's West Bank fence as part of efforts to combat terror, sources said here today (Nov 08, 2005).

The head of counter-terrorism in Chechnya and Kremlin's envoy to southern Russia, Dmitry Kozak, met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra yesterday for talks on the effectiveness of the Israeli barrier in keeping terror attacks at bay, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Israeli officials told the daily that the talks focused primarily on the construction of a security fence.

Kozak told the participants that he would recommend the construction of such a fence as a viable means to fight terror.

"They want to learn more about fighting terror," former Israel Police chief Shlomo Aharonishky, who is serving as a consultant for the Russians, told the Post.

"Kozak has been assigned to prepare a plan on how to fight terror and it will include the construction of a security fence. His visit here is to learn from us how to build the fence and how to do it," Aharonishky said.

The former police chief has established a security consultant company, National Security Project (NSP), arranged for the Russian officials visit and has already been to Russia at Kozak's request.

"He will recommend back in Russia the construction of a fence in certain places," the former police chief said, "there will also be other ideas including how to deal with the (Chechen) leadership and the people who are sent to carry out the attacks".