U.S. officials praise security at Sochi Games

WASHINGTON -- U.S. officials attending the Sochi Winter Olympics praised Russian measures to protect athletes and visitors from possible terrorist attacks.

"The level of security is quite appropriate; it's very good," Janet Napolitano, former secretary of homeland security and head of the U.S. delegation to the games, said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."

The Olympics opened under tight security as Russian authorities responded to threats of terror strikes by Islamic militants. The Black Sea resort of Sochi is just a few hundred miles from the North Caucasus region, where Russia has been battling Islamic extremists.

"We coordinate very closely with the Russians to share information," Michael McFaul, U.S. ambassador to Russia, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" program. "We're quite satisfied with the level of cooperation we have now."

The Transportation Security Administration, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, banned liquids, gels and aerosols from carry-on luggage on flights Thursday between the United States and Russia. That followed a TSA warning that terrorists might hide bomb-making material in toothpaste tubes.

One disruption was averted Friday when a Ukrainian citizen attempted to hijack an airliner and demanded the pilots fly to Sochi, according to authorities in Turkey, where the plane landed. Sunday, Turkey's state-run Anadolu agency said Artem Kozlov was ordered jailed following questioning. Private NTV television said he was arrested on hijacking and hostage taking charges.

Ukraine has been a source of tension in the U.S.-Russia relationship. Russian officials have charged that the pro-Western protests that began last year against President Viktor Yanukovych are being financed and directed by the U.S. and European governments.

Russian authorities are "aggressively" pursuing any leads regarding possible attacks at the games, though they aren't sharing internal intelligence with the United States, Rep. Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said on ABC's "This Week."

With AP