Warlord message pushes new Chechen leader
Rebel warlord Shamil Basayev called on Chechens to recognize a field commander and fundamentalist Islamic judge as their new leader following the killing by Russia of Aslan Maskhadov, according to a message posted Thursday on a rebel Web site. Abdul-Khalim Sadulayev is relatively unknown outside rebel circles, leading to speculation that his ascension would leave Basayev – whose radicalism has sometimes put him at odds even with his own militants – effectively in charge of the Chechen rebellion. Full Story