| Russian authorities say terrorism may have been the cause of an oil pipeline rupture and fire in a region bordering the southern separatist republic of Chechnya. Officials say Sunday the Tikhoretsk-Baku pipeline ruptured and caught fire overnight Saturday in the republic of Dagestan. Firefighters extinguished the blaze by early morning. An estimated 60 tons of crude oil spilled from the pipeline, spreading over a 5,000 square meter area. Security officials say they have not ruled out terrorism, but that further investigation is needed to determine the cause of the incident. The Interfax news agency quotes a pipeline official as saying the rupture was caused by "external factors," a suggestion that foul play was involved. |