CHECHEN PRESIDENT DECREES DEATH SENTENCE FOR KIDNAPPING.

At a moment when Russia is under strong criticism from the Council of Europe for its failure to declare an official moratorium on the death sentence, Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov has issued a decree introducing capital punishment or life imprisonment for kidnapping. Kidnapping cases will be dealt with by Chechnya’s new Shariat courts, which dispense Islamic law. (Itar-Tass, February 28)

"Our Home" Meets with Chinese Communists.