Arson attack on Chechen envoy Zakayev in London

Exiled Chechen rebel envoy Akhmed Zakayev has suffered an arson attack at his home in London, British authorities said yesterday.

There was minor fire damage but no injuries after Zakayev's home was targeted in the early hours of Friday, they said.

It was unclear who was behind the attack on Zakayev - the exiled deputy of Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov - whom Russia wants to extradite on terrorism charges.

Zakayev has previously predicted that Russian security sources may seek to kill him while in Britain. But a Moscow official said that was laughable and suggested the incident may have been concocted for publicity purposes.

Britain's Foreign Office confirmed an arson attack had taken place, but gave no details or comment on the circumstances.

UK police said they were keeping an "open mind" as to the motives for the attack on the controversial Chechen.

Zakayev could not be immediately reached, and friends and representatives declined to comment, citing his security.

The Chechen has frequently in the past claimed Moscow agents were out to kill him and other rebels exiled in the West.

Qatar has convicted two Russian agents for a car bomb that killed ex-Chechen rebel leader Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev in February.

But in Moscow, Interfax news agency quoted Russian SVR intelligence service spokesman Boris Labusov as saying it had nothing to do with the incident.

Zakayev has lived in London since being granted asylum last year after Moscow failed in a bid to extradite him. Moscow lost an embarrassing case in a British court last year after a judge concluded that evidence it presented against Zakayev was unreliable and probably obtained through torture.

According to Interfax, Russian intelligence service spokesman Labusov stressed Moscow's desire to put Zakayev on trial. Labusov suggested Zakayev might be looking for publicity.

"There have been many cases in history when certain people staged attempts on their lives, trying to attract society's attention to themselves with various goals," he said.

Or, Labusov added, he may have been targeted by relatives or friends of people angry at Chechen involvement in violent incidents such as the recent Beslan school siege.

Maskhadov and Zakayev describe themselves as Chechen nationalists seeking independence for the province, and say they oppose terrorism and seek a negotiated end to 10 years of war.

But Russia considers any Chechen leader demanding independence, and fighting to achieve it, to be a terrorist and has rejected any suggestion of talking to Maskhadov.