MASKHADOV ADMITS FIELD COMMANDERS HAVE REFUSED TO OBEY HIM.

The attempts by Akhmad Kadyrov, the new head of Chechnya’s provisional administration, to convince the rebels to put down their arms has begun bearing fruit. On June 26, three influential Chechen rebel field commanders went on local television and asked their fellow rebels to put down their weapons. Ali Sultanov, Ibragim Saitov and Salman Aduev not long ago were themselves fighting the federal forces. Now they have asked the rebels to go over to Kadyrov’s side and help him drive foreign mercenaries and Wahabbis out of Chechnya. Meanwhile, Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov publicly acknowledged that some of the well-known field commanders had refused to fight under his command. The Chechen administration’s press office made public a recorded interview with Maskhadov, in which the Chechen leader accuses some of close associates–Apti Batalov, Bakhit Murdashev, Eli Sultanov, Ibragim Saitov, Salman Raduev and others–of cowardice and treason. Batalov headed the Chechen president’s administration, Murdashev was head of the president’s personnel department, and Sultanov a vice-premier and minister of transport. According to Maskhadov, “they and certain other commanders refused from the very start of the military actions to resist the federal troops, and recently established close contact with the new head of the Chechen republic’s administration.” In addition, Maskhadov did not deny recent rumors that field commander Ruslan Gelaev is ready to negotiate with Kadyrov about ending hostilities and amnestying rebel fighters. “If Gelaev does that,” Maskhadov said, “he will disgrace himself” (Russian agencies, June 26).

It should be noted that the Russian authorities have not yet proved the authenticity of their tape of the Maskhadov interview. But if it is, then Kadyrov, using his authority among the Chechens, will have managed to create a split within the rebels. At the same time, the leaders of the rebel forces may be planning a response to Kadyrov’s actions. According to Russian military sources, rebel units are planning an attack on the town of Gudermes, which is Kadyrov’s headquarters. In response, security has been stepped up in the area (Radio Liberty, June 27).

MOSCOW HARDENS STANCE AT TROOP WITHDRAWAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH GEORGIA.