Chechen Rebels Vow To Expand Fight Into Russia

PRAGUE, June 23, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- The new leader of the self-declared Chechen separatist government, Doku Umarov, pledged today to expand rebel attacks to "many Russian regions."

But he said the attacks would exclusively be against military and police targets and declared that "decisive" measures would be taken to prevent any attacks on civilians.

These are Umarov's first published comments since he assumed command of separatist forces.

Pro-Russian forces killed Umarov's predecessor, Abdul-Khalim Sadulayev, on June 17.