MUSLIM UNION PLANS TO SET UP FACTION IN RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT.

The Union of Muslims of Russia (UMR) hopes to establish a Muslim faction in the Russian Duma. At present, most of the 26 Muslim members of the Russian parliament belong to the pro-government "Russia is Our Home" faction. Formation of a Muslim faction will be spearheaded by UMR chairman Nadirshakh Khachilaev, elected to the Duma last weekend to represent Makhachkala, capital of Dagestan. (Interfax, December 12)

Lebed to Found New Party.