Danish police arrested a senior Chechen official early on Wednesday morning on the request of the Russsian Authorities.

Akhmed Zakayev – an envoy attending the World Chechen Congress taking place in the Danish Capital this week – was arrested by police at the hotel where he was staying at 0400 CET. He is suspected of aiding the Chechen Rebels who took 800 people hostage in a Moscow theatre last week.

Danish police said they had also received information from the Russian authorities that Zakayev was suspected of participating in further terrorist acts between 1996 and 1999.

Extradition

Russia wants Zakayev to be extradited as soon as possible.

In Moscow, the speaker of Russia's State Duma lower house of parliament,Gennady Seleznyov was quoted by RIA news agency as telling parliament the arrest was "good news" and that "It is vital that Zakayev be extradited as quickly as possible."

But Ruslan Khasbulatov, a prominent Chechen who took part in this week's meeting, dismissed the arrest as absurd. "Zakayev is no terrorist," Khasbulatov, chairman of Russia's first post-Soviet parliament, told Ekho Moskvy radio, according to the Reuters news agency.

"I don't believe he took part in any acts. I have no doubt that they will release him," he went on.

Zakayev will appear in front of a Danish Judge on Wednesday. Police said it was for the Danish Ministry of Justice and the police to decide whether Zakayev would be handed over the Russian authorities.