Head of Chechen state council plans to run for president

While meeting journalists on Thursday, Chairman of the Chechen State Council Malik Saidullayev announced that he was intending to run for the republic's presidency.

Saidullayev explained his intention by saying that he did not support the present head of the provisional administration in Chechnya, Akhmad Kadyrov. Saidullayev believes that at present the Chechen government is the only body that can talk of achieving good results. "If the head of the republic worked closer with the government, then the situation would improve in Chechnya," he said. He also expressed himself in favour of presidential elections being held in the republic as soon as possible.

The Chairman of the State Council in Chechnya expressed his confidence that Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov would not be chosen as the republic's head. "He's got no chance," Saidullayev believes.