MURMANSK, Russia (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he felt responsible for the Kursk submarine tragedy, but defended the nation"s military and lashed out at his critics. In his first public remarks since the 118 crew members of the sunken submarine were pronounced dead, he said anyone found to be to blame in the disaster would be punished, but he would not rush to judgement and had refused resignations of the defense minister and top navy commanders.

His remarks, in an interview with RTR state television, came at the end of a day of mourning, when across Russia flags were lowered and church services held to mourn the sailors. "I have a great feeling of responsibility and guilt for this tragedy," the president said, seated in a black suit in front of a Russian flag, leaving long pauses between his words. He gave the interview after returning to Moscow from the Kursk"s home base, the small military port of Vidyayevo, where he held a six-hour overnight meeting with relatives of the dead. He described the meeting in emotional terms. "First of all about the meeting, what can I say here. Words are not enough, they are difficult to find. I want to wail." But he said there would be no wave of sackings.

He had turned down resignations offered by Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev, navy chief Vladimir Kuroyedov and Northern Fleet commander Vyacheslav Popov, he said. "Yesterday and today, rather experienced people, politicians, have said that I must show a strong character and should sack somebody ... and best of all, put someone in jail -- but this is the most simple way out of this situation and in my opinion would be a mistake," he said. "Nothing will be done, I repeat, until a full understanding has been gained about what happened and why," Putin said.

难点词汇：
　　submarine 潜艇　　　　lash out 抨击　　　　disaster 灾难　　　　resignation 辞职书
　　navy 海军　　　　　　 tragedy　悲剧　　　　interview采访　　　　sack　解雇