Putin rejects political solution to Chechnya conflict

Russia fiercely rejected pressure for a political settlement in Chechnya yesterday as a row raged over comments made by its President, Vladimir Putin, on Islamic extremism.

In Oslo for a meeting with the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, Mr Putin insisted that Chechnya remained an "internal Russian problem to be solved between the Chechen people and the Russian federation". But his outspoken performance at a press conference in Brussels on Monday provoked a diplomatic row when the verbatim text of his comments was released.

At the time, interpreters from Mr Putin's entourage failed to translate much of the President's intervention, which was delivered in a burst of rapid, and increasingly irritated, rhetoric.

Challenged by a French journalist over use of fragmentation bombs against civilians in Chechnya, Mr Putin launched a tirade against "religious extremists and international terrorists" determined to "kill all non-Muslims".

He told the questioner, Laurent Zecchini, of Le Monde: "If you want to become an Islamic radical and have yourself circumcised, I invite you to come to Moscow. Our nation is multifaith, we have experts in the field. I would recommend that he who does the surgery does it so you'll have nothing growing back." The comments, which led to bemusement and consternation among diplomats, appeared to refer to the fact that circumcision is a tenet of Islam for men.

During his lengthy press conference response, Mr Putin said that all but religious fanatics were potential targets for Islamic extremists. "If you decided to abandon your faith and become an atheist, you also are to be liquidated according to their concept," Mr Putin said. "You are in danger if you decide to become a Muslim. It is not going to save you anyway because they believe traditional Islam is hostile to their goals."

Jonathan Faull, a European Commission spokesman, said the remarks, if correctly reported, were "entirely inappropriate". One EU official added: "This clearly goes beyond the limits of what is acceptable and illustrates what kind of man Putin is."

In Oslo yesterday, Mr Schröder praised Mr Putin for progress but added: "The political process on Chechnya must continue." Mr Putin made clear he paid little heed to his European critics. "We don't want to turn up our noses and say that others' opinions are irrelevant," the President said. "The problem is so complicated that no one can give really good advice."

Russia has scrapped plans for a limited military pullout from the Caucasus republic since Chechen separatists took Moscow theatre-goers hostage last month. The siege ended with the deaths of 128 hostages and 41 rebels. In Brussels, officials pointed out that, on Monday, Mr Putin and the EU leaders failed to agree on a common communiqué about the war when the Russian President objected to references to human rights and the rule of law.

Chris Patten, the European commissioner for external relations, rejected claims that the EU side had been so focused on achieving a deal with Moscow over the future of the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad that it had soft-pedalled on Chechnya. "There wasn't, I have to say, a meeting of minds but the suggestion that this presidency had not raised the issue on behalf of the European Union or had not raised it sufficiently vigorously is the exact reverse of the truth."

He said the concerns of humanitarian organisations about their work in Chechnya and Ingushetia were raised at the EU-Russia Co-operation Committee and at a meeting in Moscow in October.