Russian president emphasizes tolerance in holiday message to Muslims

President Vladimir Putin greeted Russia's large Muslim minority Sunday in a message for the Feast of Sacrifice, emphasizing that religious tolerance and peaceableness in "our multinational homeland" are "true values of Islam."

Putin hailed "the further rebirth of the spiritual life of millions of followers of Islam in our country," said a Kremlin announcement.

Telecasts showed Muslims at Moscow's main mosque celebrating the festival.

About 20 million Muslims live in Russia, where about two-thirds of the population is considered Orthodox Christian. Authorities are waging war against militants in the Muslim Chechnya region and are wary of religious extremism.