Putin ultimatum to Chechen rebels

The fighting has devastated Chechnya

MOSCOW, Russia -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has given Chechen rebels 72 hours to commit themselves to ending fighting and begin talks on disarmament.

He gave rebel leaders a three-day ultimatum to initiate talks with Russian officials on disarming and bringing to a close years of conflict which Moscow says is backed by "international terrorists."

"I suggest members of all illegal armed formations and those who call themselves political actors immediately sever contacts with international terrorists and their organisations," Putin said in an address to the nation on Russian television on Monday night.

"In the next 72 hours they should approach official representatives of federal bodies to discuss the following questions: a method of disarming illegal formations and groups and a way to include them in civilian life in Chechnya."

The Russian president, who also outlined plans to help the U.S. in its actions against terrorism, did not say what would happen after the 72 hours elapsed.

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Moscow has repeatedly said following the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington that the conflict in Chechnya is part of the same phenomenon of "international terrorism" and should be treated by the West as such.

Last week the Russian lower house of parliament proposed the creation of a global body to fight "world terrorism."

Members of the State Duma also backed stronger national moves to crack down on rebels in Chechnya.

A parliamentary resolution said: "The Duma believes it is vital to quickly unite the efforts of all states to root out international terrorism... primarily by creating international structures to combat any attempt to prepare or carry out a terrorist act or provide financial backing for it."

It added: "The Duma highlights the need for organs of state power to take decisive measures to protect Russian citizens from terrorism and cut off external support for terrorist groups acting in Chechnya."

The Duma voted 345-8 in favour of the proposals.