The European Commission has added its voice to concern over a radio journalist missing in Chechnya.

The journalist, Andrei Babitsky, who works for the American-funded station Radio Liberty, was arrested by Russian forces in Chechnya last month.

The Russians say they handed him over to Chechen rebels in exchange for some Russian soldiers.

But the rebels have denied they're holding Mr Babitsky.

The president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, said he wanted to send a mission to Chechnya to investigate the case.

Earlier, a group of members of the United States congress said they'd written to the acting Russian president, Vladimir Putin, criticising what they described as Moscow's incomprehensible decision to hand over Mr Babitsky.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service