Shamil Basayev threatens more attacks against Moscow

Shamil Basayev made the claim on a rebel website and warned more attacks were being planned against Moscow.

In the statement, he said the death of the Moscow-backed president was a "small, but important victory".

Mr Basayev, Russia's most wanted man, has in the past claimed responsibility for a string of rebel attacks.

He said he was behind the Moscow theatre siege two years ago, when hundreds of people were taken hostage.

Last year, the United Nations Security Council placed him on its list of international terrorists.

Threats

Mr Kadyrov was killed when a bomb exploded under a VIP area in Grozny stadium on 9 May, a holiday marking Russia's victory over Adolf Hitler in World War II.

The Chechen people celebrated a double holiday on 9 May - the victory over fascism and a small but very important victory over Russianism Shamil Basayev

The blast killed at least six others and wounded around 60.

In the statement, posted on the Kavkazcenter website and emailed to Russian news agencies, Mr Basayev said: "Our mujahideen within the framework of the Operation Retribution successfully carried out the special operation."

It also threatened Russian President Vladimir Putin saying: "It will be interesting who will be appointed Russia's premier - Katya or Masha - if, with the help of Allah we successfully carry out special operation Moska-2."

The statement apparently refers to Mr Putin's teenage daughters Yekaterina and Maria.

Another Chechen separatist leader, Aslan Maskhadov, denied any involvement in the attack.

Kadyrov's son

Last week he said: "We fully understand that death and violence will never solve our problems."

The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says the power vacuum left by the death of Mr Kadyrov threatens to undermine Moscow's plans to restore order there.

Senior officials in Chechnya have been pressing Mr Putin to allow Mr Kadyrov's son Ramzan to run for the Chechen presidency.

Ramzan's supporters want Mr Putin to overrule the local constitution, which says he is too young to stand.

But human rights groups have other, more serious, doubts about his suitability for the role, as his security force is accused of kidnap, torture and murder.

New elections are due to be held before 5 September.