Chechen rebels 'backed by UK'

The controversial Kremlin-backed president of Chechnya has claimed that militants in the violence-plagued Russian province are backed by US and British intelligence agencies.

Ramzan Kadyrov's remark is probably the bluntest claim by a Russian official that insurgents in the restive North Caucasus have western support.

A statement from Mr Kadyrov's office yesterday quoted him as suggesting that western-backed mercenaries are fighting the government in Chechnya. He said: "We are fighting in the mountains with the American and English special services."