950803

Dudayev orders

commanders to

implement mly

pact with Russia

MOSCOW: Chechen Leader Dzhokhar Dudayev ordered rebel commanders to start implementing a military agreement with Russia aimed at ending nearly eight months of war in the breakway republic, a news agency said on Wednesday.

"The document has been approved in general and accepted for execution," Dudayev's spokesman, Movladi Udugov, told the Itar-Tass News agency.

If confirmed, Dudayev's approval would represent a breakthrough in the search for peace, reached Sunday after lengthy negotiations, troops from Chechnya and is considered a prelude to a political accord.

Earlier, Russia's top neogtiator in peace talks with Chechnya accused Dudayev on Wednesday of violating the terms of the military agreement.

Dudayev's decision to dismiss the lead Chechen negotiator, Usman Imayev, broke an agreement on the participants in the talks, Itar-Tass quoted Russian mediator Vyacheslav Mikhailov as saying.

Usman Imayev tended to compromise during negotiations, while Dzhokhar Dudayev fear sober-minded politicians," Mikahilov said. Dudayev relieved Imayev of his duties Monday for "betrayal of the interests of the people" of Chechnya, a day after Russian and Chechen negotiators had reached a military agreement after lengthy talks.

In hiding, Dudayev has not appeared publicly for months and it was unclear why he had approved the agreement after firing Imayev, who had signed on his behalf.

Imayev had been accused by some Chechen field commanders and negotiatiors of making too many compromises. His successor will be Dudayev's education minister, Khozhakhmed Yerikhanov, Russian news reports said.-AP