Moscow, July 22 (RFE/RL) -- Russia's Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin met in Moscow today with new Security Council Secretary Alexander Lebed to discuss the situation in Chechnya.
Our Moscow correspondent quotes Russian government officials as saying Chernomyrdin and Lebed discussed ways to settle the conflict in the breakaway republic without delay.
The officials did not elaborate. They said Chernomyrdin and Lebed also focused on the implementation of peace agreements reached last month by Russian and Chechen peace negotiators.
Heavy fighting erupted in Southern Chechnya last week and both sides are claiming to have inflicted many casualties.
Lebed is expected to visit Chechnya by the end of the month,but no date for the trip has been made public.
Chernomyrdin and Lebed reportedly today also discussed unspecified economic issues.