Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed he would not talk to rebel Chechens he has accused of setting off a deadly bomb on the Moscow metro to disrupt elections next month that he is virtually certain to win. The Friday morning rush-hour bomb killed at least 39 passengers, and police said 105 people were still in hospital, 21 of whom remained in a critical condition. Soldiers and police with dogs were deployed on Saturday to beef up security at underpasses and metro stations, particularly at three close to the Kremlin. Putin, addressing reporters alongside the president of ex-Soviet Azerbaijan, said there was no doubt fugitive Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov had masterminded the attack. \"We do not need any indirect confirmation. We know for certain that Maskhadov and his bandits are linked to this terrorism,\" he said. \"I do not rule out that this could be used both in debates taking place in the Russian presidential election and as a lever to put pressure on the current head of state.\" A spokesman for the fugitive Chechen leader said neither Maskhadov nor his separatist government were \"connected to this bloody provocation and (they) unequivocally condemn it.\" Putin, his poll ratings over 70 percent, has never been hurt by attacks like Friday\'s train blast and used the fight against separatists to his advantage in first winning election in 2000. He is unlikely to have any trouble defeating up to six rivals in the March 14 vote. The list of candidates who have met stiff requirements to take part is to be announced by Sunday. (Reuters)