CHECHEN PARLIAMENT ELECTS SPEAKER.

Ruslan Alikhadzhiev, a brigadier general in the Chechen army, has been elected speaker of Chechnya’s new parliament. (Interfax, March 17) Alikhadzhiev, who trained as an economist, commanded the Shali front during the Chechen war. He is a member of the National Independence party, which supported President Aslan Maskhadov in the presidential elections, and personally worked on Maskhadov’s campaign team.

Russia Criticizes Israel Over Housing Construction.