The head of the pro-Moscow administration in Chechnya, Akhmad Kadyrov, has appointed a new prime minister.

I have a principle and I will keep to it - first and foremost, don't cause harm Anatoly Popov

Anatoly Popov, 42, is currently the head of the state firm responsible for rebuilding Chechnya.

Mr Popov is to take over the post from Mikhail Babich, who resigned last week after a public row with Mr Kadyrov over the republic's finances and personnel issues.

A referendum is due next month on a new constitution for the republic which would firmly establish Chechnya's status as part of the Russian Federation.

"Popov is my choice, my candidate," said Mr Kadyrov, adding that the new prime minister was "not ambitious or aggressive" and was "able to work in a team".

"I have a principle and I will keep to it - first and foremost, don't cause harm," Interfax news agency quoted Mr Popov as saying. "I'm not going to take any decisions without getting to grips with the situation."

Eyes and ears

Mikhail Babich announced he was leaving the job only three months after arriving in Chechnya from central Russia to run the pro-Moscow government.

When Mr Babich was appointed in November, he was seen as the eyes and ears of Moscow, given the job of keeping control of the region's finances.

Babich was seen as the federal government's man on the ground

A public dispute erupted in January between Mr Babich and Mr Kadyrov, after the latter appointed a local finance minister without consulting the prime minister.

Mr Babich cried foul, saying the move was unconstitutional.

Under Russian law, only the Chechen regional prime minister may appoint cabinet ministers.

The BBC's Moscow correspondent, Steve Rosenberg, says the fact that Moscow failed to back Mr Babich - seen very much as the federal government's man on the ground - shows how dependent it is on Mr Kadyrov, an ethnic Chechen and former rebel leader, to run the region.

The episode is seen as embarrassing for the Kremlin, which needs peace and stability in Chechnya ahead of the referendum, due to be held in late March.