Russian police say they are searching for two young men from the republic of Ingushetia in the North Caucasus for connections to the deadly bombing of Moscow's Domodedovo Airport two weeks ago.

Interfax news agency quoted police sources as saying the two disappeared from the village of Ali-Yurt, near Ingushetia's largest city Nazran, just days before the bombing on January 24.

Reports also identified 20-year-old Magomed Yevloyev, also of Ingushetia, as the suspected suicide bomber in the attack, which killed 36 people and wounded more than 150. Security officials have said Yevloyev was high on drugs during the attack.

The Russian daily Tvoi Dien reported on Friday that Yevloyev left for military service in the fear east of Russia in November 2009, but that he was discharged for medical reasons three months later.

'Year of blood and tears'

Meanwhile a chilling video released over the weekend by one of Russia's most notorious terrorist suspects promised more suicide attacks if Moscow continues to pursue control over the North Caucasus.

Speaking in an undated video posted to an Islamic website, Doku Umarov, described by Russian officials as public enemy number one, said he was sending a young man standing next to him on a special mission to Moscow to "wake up" Russians.

He said more attacks would follow if Moscow does not meet his demands, and that 2011 would become a "year of blood and tears." Umarov made no reference to the airport bombing, and it was not clear whether the video was recorded before or after the attack.

Russia has been fighting a separatist insurgency in the North Caucasus, often using tactics decried by human rights groups as excessively brutal and showing no regard for civilian deaths.

Umarov has proclaimed himself the "Emir of the Caucasus," envisioning a pan-Caucasian Islamic state including Muslim-majority Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan.

Author: Andrew Bowen (AFP, Reuters, dpa)
Editor: Andreas Illmer