The Chechen deputy prime minister, Turpal Atgeriyev, has said that the call by the supreme Islamic court for parliament to be suspended does not mean that Chechnya is going to become an Islamic state like Saudi Arabia.

In an interview with Russian radio Mr Atgeriyev said Chechnya would be a democracy and it was fundamental that the people should elect their leaders.

On Thursday the supreme Islamic court said parliament should be suspended as it did not conform to Islamic Sharia law; the court said it should be replaced by a council of former military commanders.