Russia's foreign minister yesterday defended sweeping political changes announced by President Vladimir Putin earlier this week, telling the United States and other critics that the plans are an internal matter.

　　Sergey Lavrov's comments came a day after the US State Department voiced concern that the changes could impede democracy in Russia.

　　In the wake of three weeks of terror attacks that have killed more than 430 people in Russia, Putin has proposed wide-ranging changes to the country's executive and legislative bodies.

　　Regional governors would be nominated by the president and the country's lower house of parliament would be entirely elected from party ballots. Currently, half of the seats in the State Duma are elected in district races.

　　US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said on Tuesday that Putin's plan raises concerns about whether Russia is striking the "right balance" between "moving forward rather than backward on democracy." US President George W. Bush's administration has long been concerned about what it perceives to be a concentration of power in the Kremlin.

　　Speaking in Kazakhstan at a meeting of leaders from former Soviet countries, Lavrov accused Washington of meddling in Russian affairs. He noted the US itself had passed what he called "harsh" measures following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

　　"Our process is our internal matter, and all of these changes are taking place within the framework of the Russian Constitution," he said.

　　In the southern Russia town of Beslan, where armed militants seized over 1,200 hostages at a school two weeks ago, students returned to class yesterday.

　　The school day began with a minute of silence, and officials said the town's seven schools would have a shortened day of classes. Students from School No. 1, where hundreds of terrified children and adults were held for nearly three days by armed militants, have been sent for treatment, and were not attending.

　　(The Associated Press)

　　编辑：趴趴