Pro-Moscow Chechen administration head Alu Alkhanov told journalists in Grozny on 29 November he plans to meet \"soon\" in Brussels with unnamed representatives of the Chechen regime formerly headed by President Aslan Maskhadov. Alkhanov affirmed that \"the policy of reconciliation will be continued, and we are open [for talks with] those who want peace.\" But he ruled out including in the Brussels talks Akhmed Zakaev, whom he denounced as \"a criminal.\" Maskhadov\'s successor Abdul-Khalim Sadullaev in August named Zakaev as deputy chairman of the Chechen Council of Ministers and as his representative for peace talks. Zakaev for his part said in a statement posted 29 November on www.chechenpress.org that the legitimate Chechen leadership will not participate in any talks with those persons, including Alkhanov, whose official position in Chechnya depends on \"Russian bayonets.\" \"Alkhanov did not begin this war, he is not waging it, and it is not within his power to end it,\" Zakaev commented, adding that the resistance is \"tirelessly seeking\" to begin talks with Moscow with the aim of ending the conflict. (RFE/RL)