PRESIDENT Boris Yeltsin's senior security adviser, Gen Alexander Lebed, yesterday demanded the resignation of the Russian Interior Minister, Gen Anatoly Kulikov, accusing him of mishandling the war in Chechnya.
The tough talking Lebed, given sweeping powers to settle the 20 month conflict, warned of "provocations" being planned to spread the fighting and to ignite "a big Caucasian war".
"You wanted to know one of the war's heroes? Here he is - Interior Minister Army General Anatoly Kulikov," Gen Lebed told a news conference after returning from talks with separatist leaders in Chechnya.
Gen Lebed, in an extraordinary public denunciation, said: "The Minister of Interior of Russia did not fulfil his duty before Russia. I'm totally sure he cannot remain minister any longer."
In a statement issued by the Interior Ministry press service. Gen Kulikov rejected the accusations and put his fate in Mr Yeltsin's hands.
. In Dublin, the Irish Presidency of the EU urged Russia and rebel Chechens yesterday to reach a negotiated settlement that would bring peace to the breakaway region.