Chechen rebels surrender weapons on eve of constitution vote

By Yuri Bagrov ~ The Associated Press

VLADIKAVKAZ, Russia -- In an apparent gesture of conciliation, 46 Chechen rebels surrendered their weapons to Russian troops on Saturday, the eve of a constitutional referendum aimed at bringing peace to the troubled region.

President Vladimir Putin has said the referendum will promote peace, but critics say it's a cosmetic change and won't do anything to discourage rebels who attack Russian troops almost every day. Hundreds of protesters also rallied in the capital, Grozny, on Saturday, many carrying photographs of killed or missing relatives.

"Putin, give us our children back," said one of the signs they carried. "A referendum held on blood," said another.

At the handover ceremony in Grozny, Russian and pro-Moscow Chechen officials looked on as 46 rebels gave up their weapons, the city's mayor, Oleg Zhidkov, told The Associated Press.

All 46 will be exempt from criminal prosecution, the Interfax news agency quoted Chechen administration chief Akhmad Kadyrov as saying. TVS television showed footage of men handing over automatic rifles and Russian troops carrying away a mortar.

There was no way to confirm if the men who handed over weapons were actually rebels. Interfax reported that at least 62 rebels had given up their weapons earlier this year, but that has barely reduced the rebels' strength.

The ceremony came a day before Chechnya was to vote on approving a new constitution, which would put the region under Russian law. Putin has said it will help create a legitimate political system, but human rights advocates argue that no fair vote is possible in conditions of war.

Critics say the referendum cannot take the place of negotiations with rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov -- an option Moscow has ruled out.

"If Moscow really wants peace and stability in Chechnya, Putin must leave aside his ambitions and talk to the people who are fighting, and not with those who are loyal to Russia," said Aset Musayeva, a 45-year-old Grozny resident.

Others were more hopeful about today's vote.

"Who knows? Maybe something will change. We are all hoping for that," said Sheiman Gapayeva, 52.

Meanwhile, violence continued in the region, which has a population of some 1 million. An armored personnel carrier exploded on a land mine in Grozny, killing a soldier and a civilian in a passing car, said Ziya Abubakarova, a resident who witnessed the explosion.

Three servicemen were killed in rebel attacks and clashes over the past 24 hours, an official at the Moscow-backed administration said on condition of anonymity. Polling stations came under fire eight times, the official said.

In one incident in the village of Yalkhoi-Mokhk, rebels wounded two policemen and set the polling station on fire.

Today's vote will be monitored by 26 international observers, Alexander Veshnyakov, chairman of Russia's Central Election Commission, told Interfax.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is not sending observers because of security concerns. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said it was sending a small fact-finding team instead of a standard observation mission.

Russian troops fought an unsuccessful 1994-96 war against the rebels. After three years of de facto independence for Chechnya, troops returned after rebels raided a neighboring Russian region and after a deadly series of apartment house bombings in Russian cities.