Moscow: Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov died today (May 9, 2004) after an explosion tore through a stadium where he was attending a Victory Day celebration, the Chechen Interior Ministry said.

The blast also killed Col Gen Valery Baranov, head of the Russian military's joint command for the North Caucasus that includes Chechnya, an Interior Ministry officer said on condition of anonymity.

The explosion was caused by a land mine that was planted under VIP seats at the stadium, officials said. At least 25 other people were wounded, officials said.