Chechen rebel leader claims Moscow airport bombing

"This operation was carried out on my order," he said in the video posted late yesterday on the Kavkaz Centre website, referring to the January 24 suicide attack at Domodedovo airport.

Last week, the self-proclaimed leader of the so-called "Caucasus Emirate" -- which has sought to unite various groups in Russia's Caucasus and establish Islamic rule -- had vowed in a chilling video to make 2011 a year of "blood and tears."

Russian security officials have said the Domodedovo airport bombing attack was carried out by a 20-year-old native of one of the North Caucasus republics, who was high on drugs.

In the earlier video released late Friday, Umarov warned Moscow: "God willing we will make this year a year of blood and tears for you." "You better come to your senses and think," Umarov said, urging Russians to pressure their leaders into letting the region go. He said the attacks would stop after Russia withdrew from the region.

The Kremlin has repeatedly said letting the Caucasus go and negotiating with "terrorists" was not an option.