Dead couple planned to marry

Moscow - The bodies of a young Russian and his Chechen fiancee were found at their home at Chervlenaya, near Chechnya's capital…

Moscow - The bodies of a young Russian and his Chechen fiancee were found at their home at Chervlenaya, near Chechnya's capital, Grozny, army sources quoted by ITAR-TASS said yesterday. Mr Alexander Lukyanov and Ms Melanie Murzayeva, both 18, had been planning to marry in a few days.

They were found dead on Tuesday, apparently killed by persons who were not prepared to tolerate a marriage that cut across the conflict lines in the battle-scarred republic.

Officials speaking for the Kremlin's spokesman for Chechnya, Mr Sergei Yastrzhembsky, said they had no knowledge of the incident.