Chechens mark first anniversary of peace treaty

Chechens have been marking the first anniversary of their peace treaty with Russia with events throughout the country, with thousands of people gathered in the capital Grozny for a large rally.

The Chechen president, Aslan Maskhadov, has said the agreement means that Russia has, in effect, recognised the region's independence.

But the peace treaty left the status of region open until 2001, and Russia still considers Chechnya a part of its territory.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service