Chechen leader killed

MASKED attackers broke into the home of a local leader of the pro-Russian party in the Chechen republic and shot her to death early yesterday.

Tamara Khadzhiyeva of the United Russia party, which supports President Vladimir Putin, was killed in the town of Shali, southeast of the Chechen capital Grozny.

Investigators believe Khadzhiyeva was the victim of a contract killing because the attackers opened fire immediately after entering her home and took nothing as they fled.