A European human rights envoy says Russia should postpone a planned referendum on a new constitution for Chechnya because of poor security in the region.

The rapporteur for the Council of Europe, Frank Judd, said the security situation did not allow the conduct of a truly wide discussion of the draft constitution.

The violence on all sides has to stop Frank Judd

President Vladimir Putin has set 23 March for a poll on a new constitution for Chechnya to cement the breakaway region's status as a Russian republic.

Lord Judd said that during his recent visit to a Chechen refugee camp in neighbouring Ingushetia, he had not met a single person who had seen, let alone discussed, the text of the draft constitution.

The envoy, who is on a three-day fact-finding mission to Chechnya and Ingushetia, is due to present his recommendations in a report to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe next week.

'Real political solution'

Lord Judd said that under such circumstances a referendum could be merely a formality.

"We don't just want a bit of paper that people say yes or no to," he said.

Judd: Council of Europe unlikely to send observers

"We want a real political solution rooted in the people and the consensus of the people."

He said the referendum would not immediately produce a political solution to Chechnya's problems.

"Countries have never been able to build stability unless the constitution and proposals come out of widespread political discussions."

Lord Judd said the Council of Europe was unlikely to send observers for the vote, even if invited.

Criticism

Correspondents say despite daily violence, Moscow is pressing ahead with the vote in order to show that the situation in Chechnya is getting back to normal.

But its plans suffered a blow in December when 80 people died in a suicide bomb attack on the headquarters of the pro-Russian government in the capital Grozny.

Lord Judd condemned the attack - as well as the hostage-taking at a Moscow theatre in October - but also criticised irregularities by Russian troops.

"The daily and nightly violence, abuse of human rights, the intimidation, beatings, harassment - that is also violence and we condemn that as well," he said.

"The violence on all sides has to stop."