MOSCOW, Feb. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- President Vladimir Putin has ordered the creation of a national counter-terrorism committee to improve government management in fighting terrorism, the Kremlin said on Thursday.

    The committee, which will be headed by the director of the Federal Security Service, Nikolai Patrushev, will "serve as the organization that coordinates the activities of federal, regional and municipal agencies in the counter-terrorism field and prepare the corresponding proposals for the Russian president," a Kremlin press release said.

    Putin also ordered regional counter-terrorism commissions to be established to coordinate the efforts of local authorities in preventing terrorist acts and dealing with their aftermath.

    Patrushev was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying that the president made the decision to "build a strictly organized vertical system of operation to prevent and counter terrorism and deal with the aftermath of terror attacks."

    The committee will "enhance efficiency in our operations and accelerate decision-making," Patrushev said. Enditem