Russian Air Defense Intercepts Meteor and Blows it to Pieces Before Impact?

 UPDATE: 1000 INJURED - A Russian health official says nearly 1,000 people have sought help for injuries caused by a meteor that exploded in the sky, blasting out countless windows. Chelyabinsk health chief Marina Moskvicheva, said Friday that 985 people in her city had asked for medical assistance. The Interfax news agency quoted her as saying 43 were hospitalized. The Russian Academy of Sciences said the meteor -- estimated to be about 10 tons -- entered the Earth's atmosphere going at least 33,000 mph. It shattered about 18-32 miles above the ground, releasing several kilotons of energy above the Ural Mountains.A number of lurid claims are being made in connection with today's meteor shower over Russia, including obscure reports that the meteor was shot down by Russian air defenses, as well as a claim by controversial Russian political leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky that the meteor was in fact a secret US weapon aimed at Russia.