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Chechen congress asks Khasbulatov to seek peace
COPENHAGEN, Oct 29 (Reuters) - The World Chechen Congress, an event which has incurred the wrath of Moscow, ended on Tuesday with a mandate for Ruslan Khasbulatov to try to persuade both Russia and its Chechen rebel foes to talk peace.
In the wake of the Moscow theatre siege, Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to be in any mood for compromise negotiations over the breakaway region. His tough stance has boosted his popularity despite high casualties among the hostages caused by a mystery gas used by his security forces.
Khasbulatov, an ethnic Chechen and former speaker of the Russian parliament, conceded that his mission would not be easy.
"There are hawks, not only in Moscow but also on the other side," he told a news conference after the congress of exiled Chechens unanimously approved a resolution calling for an immediate end to hostilities in the mainly Muslim region.
In protest at Denmark's decision to allow the Chechen meeting, Putin has cancelled a state visit to Copenhagen.
International guarantees for the protection of the population of Chechnya is one of the key elements of the Khasbulatov plan, which entails far-reaching autonomy for the province but not full independence from the Russian federation. (Additional reporting by Gleb Bryanaski)
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