Chechnya installed as president Thursday a 30-year-old with his own militia force, praised by allies for restoring order to the Russian province but accused by rights groups of killing and abducting civilians.

Ramzan Kadyrov, whose father Akhmad was assassinated in 2004 after seven months as president, swore to uphold Chechen laws in a lavish ceremony in Gudermes, his clan stronghold 30 km east of the capital Grozny.

Like his father, Ramzan Kadyrov switched to Moscow's side and was elevated with the Kremlin's blessing after fighting Russia's rule over its restive Caucasian province.

"My father often said to me power is not an end in itself but is a tool to achieve something else," he told hundreds of high-profile guests in a glass pavilion at his Gudermes villa.

"And I want to achieve a peaceful Chechnya within the Russian Federation."

Kadyrov, nominated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February, has been an important tool in a Kremlin strategy to isolate remaining separatist forces and rebuild the province.

Kadyrov has effectively ruled Chechnya since his father's death, but could only legally take over the presidency once he turned 30 last year.

Moscow has poured huge funds into rebuilding Grozny and Chechnya, but Kadyrov has taken much of the credit.

Kadyrov, stocky and bearded, has always denied allegations of rights abuses. He became prime minister in the pro-Moscow administration last year and president-designate in February.

With help from his militiamen, Russian forces have killed most insurgent leaders and driven the rebels into mountain hideouts, from where they launch occasional attacks.

Police sealed off the center of Grozny Thursday and the road from the airport was lined with armed police on both sides. Armed guards were also stationed around Kadyrov's villa.

(China Daily via agencies April 6, 2007)