By empty (10/6/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The United Nations Security Council has announced it will send a mission to Afghanistan to investigate ways to strengthen peace-keeping operations in the country. In recent months there has been a marked increase in the number of attacks by Taleban fighters. The UN mission will observe the international peace keeping force, Isaf, which is led by Nato and only operates in the capital, Kabul.

By empty (10/5/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Polls have opened in Russia\'s breakaway republic of Chechnya in a controversial presidential election, the first here since Russian troops poured in four years ago. The Russian authorities massively tightened security, deploying 15,000 soldiers and armoured personnel carriers to guard the 426 polling stations which opened at 8:00 am (0400 GMT). According to the electoral commission, 560,000 registered voters have a choice of seven candidates in a Kremlin-organized poll which Moscow pledged would be a free and fair opportunity for Chechens to choose their leader.

By empty (10/3/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

During a meeting with representatives of the Cossack community and World War II veterans in Krasnodar Krai on 3 October, President Putin said that Meskhetians have the right to return to their historic homeland and that this question has been raised with the leadership of Georgia more than once. However, Georgia\'s leadership \"is not still ready to resolve this problem,\" Putin said. Putin added that while the \"Meskhetian-Turks are living in Russia, they should live normally, observing our laws.