The man who acts as foreign minister in the Chechen government, Ilyas Akhmadov, has begun a visit to Washington.

On his arrival last night Wednesday Mr Akhmadov said his government was ready to do anything to stop the total destruction of the Chechen people -- including negotiating with Moscow.

He said Chechnya would welcome United States mediation, but was not asking for it.

Mr Akhmadov is due to have a series of meetings with members of Congress.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service