Chechnya Legislature Confirms Putin Pick

Ramzan Kadyrov, left, approved as Chechnya's president by the regional legislature, and Ingushetia's President Murat Zyazikov, right, seen during celebrations in Grozny, Chechnya, Friday, March 2, 2007. Chechnya's parliament approved widely feared strongman Ramzan Kadyrov as the war-battered Russian republic's new president Friday in a near-unanimous vote seen as a foregone conclusion a day after President Vladimir Putin made the nomination. (AP Photo/Musa Sadulayev) (Musa Sadulayev - AP)

Of the detainees whom he interviewed in Chechnya that complained of torture, "several of them pointed at the activities of the federal police," he said in Moscow.

He recommended that Chechnya set up a "truth commission" similar to those in Latin American countries to try to bring those responsible for abuses to light.

Analysts say Putin has entrusted Kadyrov with power in part because he is seen as the only person who can keep large numbers of former rebels under control. Many former rebels now serve in the police and security forces.

But his growing clout is also seen as a risk for the Kremlin, particularly after Putin steps down at the end of his second term next year. Some see Kadyrov's loyalty to Russia as closely tied to his relationship with Putin.

Kadyrov has repeatedly praised Putin but has criticized the Russian government and the state-run oil company OAO Rosneft, calling for greater economic freedom for Chechnya and for a larger share of its oil revenues.

Analysts say that with the power to foment new turmoil in fragile Chechnya and create serious problems for Russia, he could take a more demanding stance if his relations with the Kremlin become clouded.

The first war between rebels and Moscow's forces began in December 1994 and ended 20 months later with a humiliating Russian withdrawal after rebels fought them to standstill. Three years of de-facto independence followed, during which Chechnya became notoriously lawless, plagued by kidnappings and increasingly influenced by militant Islam.

Fighting resumed in 1999 after Chechen insurgents invaded neighboring Dagestan, apparently aiming to set up an Islamic caliphate, and after some 300 people were killed in apartment bombings that Russian authorities blamed on the rebels.

Chechen rebels have been involved in most of the terrorist attacks that have plagued Russia for more than a decade.

___

Associated Press Writer Jim Heintz in Moscow contributed to this report.