A man has been arrested after at least five people died when bombs rocked a commuter train in southern Russia today.

Chechen rebels have reportedly contacted Russian authorities about possible peace talks aimed at ending the latest war in the breakaway province.

The US Government has welcomed the willingness of Chechnya’s rebel leader to begin peace talks with the Russian Government, describing it as a positive step towards ending the two-year-old war.

A delegation of ambassadors from European Union nations visited Chechnya today on a fact-finding mission focusing on the situation of refugees and security in the war-battered region.