The Council of Europe has voted to suspend Russia's voting rights as a means of censuring it for the War in Chechnya. The Council vote calls for the outright expulsion of Russia should it refuse to call a ceasefire and begin talks with the rebels. Russian President-elect Putin was furious, warning that the suspension of Russia from the Council (Europe's top human rights forum) would "have severe repercussions for relations with the West".--Stephen V Cole