Russia's breakaway region of Chechnya, setting aside its own troubles, has urged Northern Ireland's rival communities to end violence and work for peace.
"The foreign ministry of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria calls on the opposing sides in the conflict to show restraint and put an end to violence," the ministry said in a statement yesterday.
Chechnya, a Muslim territory of about one million people, fought a bitter 20month war against Russian troops in which tens of thousands of civilians were killed during 1994-96.
Its de facto independence remains unrecognised and its people are now prey to marauding kidnap gangs and organised crime.
The Chechens called on the British government to do all it could to avert bloodshed in the North.
London's latest dealings with the Chechen leadership have centred on efforts to free two British aid workers kidnapped in Chechnya for ransom a year ago.
