Beslan siege planner named Chechen rebel VP

MOSCOW, June 27 (Reuters) - Shamil Basayev, the man who said he planned the 2004 Beslan school siege, was made vice president of the Chechen rebel group today, a rebel Web site said.

In a decree dated June 27 and published on Chechen rebel Web site, www.chechenpress.info, rebel leader Doku Umarov appointed Basayev - who has described himself as ''a bad guy, a bandit, a terrorist,'' as vice president.

Basayev, Russia's most wanted man for a series of deadly attacks against civilians and soldiers, was previously first deputy prime minister of the separatist government.

Pro-Chechen gunmen seized the Beslan school on the morning of Sept. 1, 2004, the first day of the Russian school year. The siege ended when Russian troops stormed the school. More than half of the 331 people who died were children.

Basayev, whose foot was blown off by a in 2000, has said he organised the Beslan attack. He has been behind dozens of other attacks, often killing Russian civilians.

Russia has been fighting Chechen rebels for more than a decade but attacks on Russian troops are common. The Chechen rebel movement has fragmented under increasing pressure from Russian forces.

Reuters SK VP0117