Akhmed Zakayev

A Chechen separatist leader was released from custody Friday evening, several hours after he was detained, state media reported. A judge in Warsaw, Poland, denied a prosecutor's request to arrest separatist leader Akhmed Zakayev, who is in Poland for the World Chechen Congress, according to Russian state media agency Itar-Tass. Akhmed Zakayev "is at large and may leave the country," court press secretary Wojciech Malek said, according to Itar-Tass. A prosecutor could appeal the Polish court's decision to free Zakayev, Malek said.

Police in Warsaw, Poland, on Friday arrested a Chechen separatist leader wanted in Russia on terrorism charges, the Polish Press Agency reported. The Polish prosecutor's office warned that Akhmed Zakayev would be arrested on an international warrant if he arrived in Poland to attend the third World Congress of the Chechen People that was being held in the town of Pultusk through Saturday. Russia previously said it would request Zakayev's extradition if he were apprehended.

Peace talks between the Chechens and Russia are likely to take place within 10 days, officials have said. But the talks will not be on rebels' disarmament, as had been earlier reported by the Russians, Reuters has reported. Viktor Kazantsev, President Vladimir Putin's envoy in southern Russia, had said on Wednesday that he had been approached by a senior Chechen rebel requesting disarmament talks. Russian news agencies had quoted Kazantsev as saying that rebel representative had been Akhmed Zakayev.

Russia and France are involved in a diplomatic row over the latter's decision to hold a meeting with a representative of rebel Chechen leader Aslan Maskhadov. The Russian Foreign Ministry sent a sharply-worded statement to Paris complaining about the meeting, Reuters reported. Moscow has already issued similar concerns to Britain and the U.S. following recent meetings between Chechen envoys and officials in London and Washington. The ministry said French Ambassador Claude Blanchemaison was called in and told that Paris' decision to receive rebel envoy Akhmed Zakayev "contradicted the spirit of co-operation and partnership between our countries.

A senior Chechen rebel sought by Moscow will remain in Danish custody another two weeks, a court has ruled. "I prolong his detention by 14 days till November 26," a Copenhagen judge told reporters. Akhmed Zakayev, a top aide to fugitive Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov, was arrested in Denmark at Russia's request in late October at the end of a conference of Chechen rebels and human rights activists. He is suspected of helping to plan last month's deadly hostage crisis at a Moscow theatre that left more than 100 hostages dead.

Chechen rebel leader Akhmed Zakayev, wanted on murder and kidnapping charges in Russia, won his fight against extradition from the UK. Judge Timothy Workman, giving his ruling in London's Bow Street Magistrates' Court, London, Thursday, said it was "unjust and oppressive to return Mr. Zakayev to Russia" because the extradition was politically motivated. Zakayev, 43, had been on conditional bail since his arrest at London's Heathrow Airport in December following Russia's extradition request on 13 counts, including charges of murder and kidnapping during the war in the breakaway region.

Britain has granted political asylum to Chechen rebel leader Akhmed Zakayev, who is wanted on murder and kidnapping charges in Russia. "We can confirm Mr. Zakayev has been granted refugee status," a British Home Office spokesman said Saturday. Zakayev won his fight against extradition from the UK earlier this month when a magistrates' court judge in London said it would be "unjust and oppressive to return Mr. Zakayev to Russia" because the extradition was politically motivated.

The Kremlin has labelled Chechen fighters as terrorists since the latest conflict began more than two years ago. Whether referring to Jordanian-born Hattab, allegedly funded by Osama bin Laden, or the less-radical Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov, Russian President Vladimir Putin argued they were all the same and warned they must disarm or face destruction. As for negotiations, forget about them. Then came September 11, and Putin joined the international coalition against terrorism.

Exiled Chechen rebel envoy Akhmed Zakayev has suffered an arson attack at his London home, the British Foreign Office has confirmed. The fire caused minor damage but no injuries, police said. It was unclear who was behind the attack. Zakayev, an envoy for Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov, was granted political asylum in Britain last year. Russia's foreign ministry would like to extradite him. Zakayev has previously predicted Russian security sources may seek to kill him while in Britain.

Russian and Chechnya officials have held the first face-to-face talks since the start of the war in 1999. Russian President Vladimir Putin's envoy to Chechnya met with a Chechen rebel representative in Moscow on Sunday, Russian news agencies said. The meeting between Putin's envoy Viktor Kazantsev and Akhmed Zakayev, a representative of separatist Chechen leader Aslan Maskhadov, took place at Sheremetyevo airport outside Moscow and continued at a government guest house outside the city, the ITAR-Tass news agency said.

A Chechen separatist leader was released from custody Friday evening, several hours after he was detained, state media reported. A judge in Warsaw, Poland, denied a prosecutor's request to arrest separatist leader Akhmed Zakayev, who is in Poland for the World Chechen Congress, according to Russian state media agency Itar-Tass. Akhmed Zakayev "is at large and may leave the country," court press secretary Wojciech Malek said, according to Itar-Tass. A prosecutor could appeal the Polish court's decision to free Zakayev, Malek said.

Police in Warsaw, Poland, on Friday arrested a Chechen separatist leader wanted in Russia on terrorism charges, the Polish Press Agency reported. The Polish prosecutor's office warned that Akhmed Zakayev would be arrested on an international warrant if he arrived in Poland to attend the third World Congress of the Chechen People that was being held in the town of Pultusk through Saturday. Russia previously said it would request Zakayev's extradition if he were apprehended.

Chechen separatists have vowed to press on with their fight for independence after the killing of guerrilla leader Aslan Maskhadov. "It is a very big loss but it is not a death blow to us, as (Russian President Vladimir) Putin thinks," spokesman Akhmed Zakayev said in London. Zakayev, Maskhadov's main envoy in the West, signaled the killing could trigger revenge attacks. "Aslan Maskhadov will be much more dangerous for the Kremlin leadership in death than he could have been even in life, when he was calling for peaceful dialogue," he told Reuters.

Exiled Chechen rebel envoy Akhmed Zakayev has suffered an arson attack at his London home, the British Foreign Office has confirmed. The fire caused minor damage but no injuries, police said. It was unclear who was behind the attack. Zakayev, an envoy for Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov, was granted political asylum in Britain last year. Russia's foreign ministry would like to extradite him. Zakayev has previously predicted Russian security sources may seek to kill him while in Britain.

Britain has granted political asylum to Chechen rebel leader Akhmed Zakayev, who is wanted on murder and kidnapping charges in Russia. "We can confirm Mr. Zakayev has been granted refugee status," a British Home Office spokesman said Saturday. Zakayev won his fight against extradition from the UK earlier this month when a magistrates' court judge in London said it would be "unjust and oppressive to return Mr. Zakayev to Russia" because the extradition was politically motivated.

Chechen rebel leader Akhmed Zakayev, wanted on murder and kidnapping charges in Russia, won his fight against extradition from the UK. Judge Timothy Workman, giving his ruling in London's Bow Street Magistrates' Court, London, Thursday, said it was "unjust and oppressive to return Mr. Zakayev to Russia" because the extradition was politically motivated. Zakayev, 43, had been on conditional bail since his arrest at London's Heathrow Airport in December following Russia's extradition request on 13 counts, including charges of murder and kidnapping during the war in the breakaway region.

A senior Chechen rebel sought by Moscow will remain in Danish custody another two weeks, a court has ruled. "I prolong his detention by 14 days till November 26," a Copenhagen judge told reporters. Akhmed Zakayev, a top aide to fugitive Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov, was arrested in Denmark at Russia's request in late October at the end of a conference of Chechen rebels and human rights activists. He is suspected of helping to plan last month's deadly hostage crisis at a Moscow theatre that left more than 100 hostages dead.

Russia and France are involved in a diplomatic row over the latter's decision to hold a meeting with a representative of rebel Chechen leader Aslan Maskhadov. The Russian Foreign Ministry sent a sharply-worded statement to Paris complaining about the meeting, Reuters reported. Moscow has already issued similar concerns to Britain and the U.S. following recent meetings between Chechen envoys and officials in London and Washington. The ministry said French Ambassador Claude Blanchemaison was called in and told that Paris' decision to receive rebel envoy Akhmed Zakayev "contradicted the spirit of co-operation and partnership between our countries.

The Kremlin has labelled Chechen fighters as terrorists since the latest conflict began more than two years ago. Whether referring to Jordanian-born Hattab, allegedly funded by Osama bin Laden, or the less-radical Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov, Russian President Vladimir Putin argued they were all the same and warned they must disarm or face destruction. As for negotiations, forget about them. Then came September 11, and Putin joined the international coalition against terrorism.

Russian and Chechnya officials have held the first face-to-face talks since the start of the war in 1999. Russian President Vladimir Putin's envoy to Chechnya met with a Chechen rebel representative in Moscow on Sunday, Russian news agencies said. The meeting between Putin's envoy Viktor Kazantsev and Akhmed Zakayev, a representative of separatist Chechen leader Aslan Maskhadov, took place at Sheremetyevo airport outside Moscow and continued at a government guest house outside the city, the ITAR-Tass news agency said.