Lebed Snubs New Defence Council

He is working on the documents signed on Thursday, a Lebed spokesman said by telephone, referring to deals signed on Thursday with separatist leaders of Chechnya.

Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin chaired the meeting on behalf of President Boris Yeltsin. Government ministers and army and security bosses all attended.

Russian news agencies said the meeting, held behind closed doors, discussed funding for the armed forces