Putin fires Alkhanov, appoints Kadyrov as new Chechen President

Moscow, Feb 16 (UNI) Russian President Vladimir Putin has fired Chechen President Alu Alkhanov and appointed current Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov as acting President.

Press secretary Alexei Gromov announced last night that Mr Putin also appointed Mr Alakhanov as Deputy Russian Justice Minister, saying he heeded to Mr Alkhanov's request of transfering him to another job.

Mr Alkhanov's presidential term was to end in 2008, but he said in January that he would not like to stay for a second term.

The announcement came after days of speculation that Mr Alkhanov could resign amid a power struggle with his Prime Minister.

Mr Kadyrov, 30, is the son of the pro-Moscow ex-President Akhmad Kadyrov, who was assassinated in 2004. He reportedly controls a militia accused by rights group of a role in murder and abduction of suspected separatist rebels.

Russian press reports said there had always been bitter rivalry between him and Mr Alkhanov, who never held much real power, and recently his resignation only seemed a matter of time.

Mr Kadyrov will still need the approval of the Chechen parliament, but his enormous popularity in the troubled Caucasus republic meant it will probably be just a formality.

UNI