Chechen elites in Jordan call on the Muslim world to stop Russia

AMMAN [MENL] -- Jordan's influential Chechen community has urged the Arab and Muslim world to stop Russia's offensive against the autonomous republic.

The Jordanian Society for the Support of Chechnya, in a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, urged Arab and Muslim leaders to "move quickly to stop the Russian aggression against the people of Chechnya, who are now facing genocide because of its commitment to the Islamic ideology."

The group also called on the international community for an "immediate and effective intervention to end the continuous Russian onslaught against the people of Chechnya."

There are an estimated 40,000 Chechens in Jordan and many of them hold senior positions in the security forces and intelligence departments. Russian intelligence sources said the Jordanian community has funnelled funds to support the Islamic fundamentalists in the Russian republic.

In an unrelated development, a rebel group said Moroccan security forces have killed or wounded hundreds of people in Western Sahara. The Polisario Front's government-in-exile said the killing took place last Monday during protests and that since Wednesday authorities have imposed a state of emergency.

Earlier, U.N. and Moroccan officials said clashes erupted between Moroccan police and students and mine workers in Laayoune on Monday. No deaths were reported although officials said people were injured.

A referendum on independence for Western Sahara is scheduled to be held in July 2000.