Chechen leaders insist on real independence but Russian officials say that will never happen.

"The Chechen leaders were in the theater control room, carried away with watching that video, when the storming began."

The fact is, the Russians killed the one Chechen leader with whom they might have begun a political process.

And they must all find their place in life," the Chechen leader declared.

But despite several encounters with Chechen leaders, the promises have led nowhere.

But in the first, headline-making session it will be the Chechen leaders who come to him.

"We would like to deal with Chechen leaders who control the situation in the republic."

But other Chechen leaders quickly said the demilitarization process would go ahead as planned.

A white list for Chechen leaders, as has been proposed in an amendment, seems to us to be counterproductive, however.

But several Chechen leaders privately complained to him that little progress was being made to rebuild the country or its capital, officials said.