Six Russian soldiers detained over abuses

Six Russian servicemen in Chechnya have been detained over allegations of human rights abuses against Chechen civilians.

Russia's main prosecutor in Chechnya, Viktor Dakhnov, said the soldiers were being investigated in connection with charges of abduction, robbery and abuse of authority.

The move follows accusations that Russian troops rounded up all men and beat and robbed them when they searched three Chechen villages earlier this month.

A number of Russian officers are reported to have been suspended in connection with the raids.

A BBC correspondent says that although Moscow has always insisted that soldiers committing crimes in Chechnya will face justice, and several hundred criminal cases have been opened, there have been almost no convictions.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service