Basayev named to Chechen cabinet

GROZNY, Russia, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Chechnya's Shamil Basayev, who claimed responsibility for the deadly Beslan school attack in Russia, has been named to the province's rebel cabinet.

Abdul-Khalim Sadullaev, president and resistance commander in the province, named Basayev first deputy prime minister, Radio Free Europe reported.

Basayev was named to that post in early 1997 by Sadullaev's predecessor, but he stepped down months later because of disagreements, the reports said.

In the Beslan carnage last September, more than 300 died and the United States has declared Basayev a terrorist.

Basayev and Doku Umarov, whom Sadullaev named deputy president, are now the two most experienced and senior field commanders in the resistance movement.