N. Ossetian Leader Says He Will Resign.

(From The Moscow Times)

North Ossetian President Alexander Dzasokhov said Tuesday that he would step down from his post, nine months after public protests first erupted in the republic over the authorities' handling of the Beslan hostage crisis.

Dzasokhov -- whose term in office expires in January -- has sent a letter to President Vladimir Putin requesting that he be discharged early from his post, Putin's envoy to the Southern Federal District, Dmitry Kozak, told reporters.

Dzasokhov and Kozak spoke after meeting with other senior officials in the North Ossetian capital, Vladikavkaz, earlier in the day. Kozak said participants of the meeting, which included leaders of local political organizations and media representatives, discussed several possible successors to Dzasokhov.

As presidential envoy, Kozak said he would nominate two candidates from a shortlist to Putin. According to the law, Putin would then pick one of the two and submit his candidate for approval to the republic's legislature.

Kozak said the candidates discussed were the chairman of North Ossetian government, Teimuraz Mansurov; his first deputy, Alexander Merkulov; and Vladikavkaz Mayor Kazbek Pagiyev. Pagiyev, however, said he was not interested in the position.

Dzasokhov said he would be "setting a precedent" by becoming the country's first regional leader to resign early rather than ask Putin to nominate him for another term.