New leader, same as the old one

Chechnya's new rebel leader isn't going to turn over too many new leaves.

In his first public comments since becoming Chechnya's new rebel leader, Doku Umarov has threatened to expand separatist operations further into Russia.

Umarov also praised his predecessor, Abdul-Khalim Sadulayev, who was killed by Russian special forces in Chechnya on June 17, and urged Russia to leave the breakaway region.

Umarov said preparations were under way to take the Chechen separatists' fight for independence deeper into Russian territory with attacks on military targets.

In comments posted on the rebel website chechenpress.org today, Umarov also said a special unit is being formed to fight what he called "the most odious traitors" to the separatist cause -- an apparent reference to Chechnya's pro-Moscow administration.

Umarov said rebel forces this summer planned to expand their attacks to "many regions of Russia."

But, he stressed, they would target only military and police facilities. Civilians would be spared, except for those who participate in what he called "subversive activities against us."

In contrast to Chechen rebel field commander Shamil Basayev, Umarov has opposed attacks against civilians like the September 2004 Beslan school siege.

Umarov's threats to expand the Chechen conflict continues the move begun by his predecessor Sadulayev to create six so-called "fronts" in the war with Russia -- four in Chechnya itself, one for Daghestan and one for the remainder of the North Caucus region.

His remarks also appear to be an attempt to demonstrate that the resistance movement has survived Sadulayev's death June 17 at the hands of Russian special forces.