By Emma Jane Kirby BBC correspondent in Paris

The situation is still tense in the region

The Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly also demanded that Chechen rebels stop terrorist activity.

It suggested Russian troops which were not essential to security should be withdrawn.

Overriding objections from Russia, the Strasbourg-based body adopted a resolution to create the war crimes tribunal with a clear majority.

The assembly which draws members from 44 national parliaments, including Russia's, passed a report which says those responsible for human rights abuses on both sides of the conflict must be brought to justice without delay.

'Dismal failure'

Everyone had so far failed dismally to protect the people of Chechnya from human rights abuses, said the report.

It said the main reason why both Russian soldiers and Chechen fighters went on committing such crimes was simply because they nearly always got away with it.

Without a tangible improvement in the human rights situation all attempts at pacifying the region were doomed to failure, the report continued.

The head of the Russian delegation said the tone of the debate was unacceptable and that Russia did not agree with the result of the vote.