US/RUSSIA: US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell said yesterday he was concerned that sweeping political changes to fight terrorism proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin would erode Russia's democratic reforms.
"In effect this is pulling back on some of the democratic reforms," Mr Powell said. "We have concerns about it and we want to discuss them with the Russians."
The Kremlin leader said on Monday he wanted a new election law to limit the number of political parties and to have full control on nominating regional leaders to combat terrorism following the Beslan school siege in southern Russia.
Critics immediately accused Mr Putin of exploiting the siege, in which at least 327 hostages died, to amass power.
While expressing sympathy for Mr Putin's desire to go after "terrorists" following the Beslan crisis, the bombing of two Russian aircraft and a Moscow subway bombing in the last month, Mr Powell said Russia must balance this with democratic freedoms.
"We understand the need to fight against terrorism . . .but in an attempt to go after terrorists I think one has to strike a proper balance to make sure that you don't move in a direction that takes you away from the democratic reforms or the democratic process," he said.
Washington has at times been accused of turning a blind eye to widespread concerns the Kremlin was becoming increasingly autocratic, notably by muting its criticism of the imprisonment and trial of the former chairman of the Yukos oil company.
Since the Beslan tragedy, in which children made up half of the victims, Washington has played down its long-standing demand Russia seek a political settlement in Chechnya, where a brutal conflict has raged between Moscow and Chechen separatists for 10 years.
Mr Putin last week rejected talks with the rebels and taunted Washington by saying: "Why don't you meet Osama bin Laden . . ."