Chechen murder suspects plead not guilty

Dubai : Two suspects in the assassination of a bitter foe of Chechnya's Moscow-backed president have pleaded not guilty to murder-related charges.

An Iranian national and a citizen of Tajikistan appeared in court on Monday, charged with “plotting murder'' and “aiding and abetting'' alleged assassins of Sulim Yamadayev.

Yamadayev is a former Chechen warlord who switched sides in the republic's long conflict with Russia. He was gunned down March 28 at Jumeirah Beach Residencem, a posh residential complex in the emirate.

Dubai police detained the two suspects in April.

They said four other suspects fled the country, including Adam Delimkhanov, a Russian parliament deputy with ties to the Kremlin.

Delimkhanov denies Dubai allegations of masterminded the killing.