Putin meets new security officials

The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has been discussing military reform with his new Defence Minister, Sergey Ivanov, and the Chief of the General Staff, General Anatoly Kvashnin.

The BBC Russian Affairs correspondent says that the meeting underlined that the General and his colleagues were now taking their orders from a civilian and that Mr Putin wants to show the army, Russian society and the world that Russia is serious about military reform.

Mr Putin said that efforts up to now to rebuild Chechnya had not produced the expected effect and there should be no more throwing money to the winds.

He also said there was an organic link between rebuilding the breakaway republic and further military and police steps to control Chechen rebels. Correspondents say there were also indications that more government changes in Moscow will be announced in the next few weeks.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service