Chechyna's hugely controversial leader Ramzan Kadyrov has announced he's prepared to step down - because he'd like to travel to Jerusalem to protect the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

On Wednesday (July 26) Kadyrov, a staunch Muslim, was quoted by the Tass news agency as saying: "My personal suggestion for ruling out conflict situations around the Islamic holy site, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, is to pass all the rights for it to Jordan.

"I myself am ready to abnegate powers and to serve in the agencies that ensure the safety of this holy for all Muslims site.

"[I'm ready to] be a volunteer and protect the Al-Aqsa Mosque for the rest of my life."

Several violent clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians have broken out in Jerusalem since additional security measures were put in place at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The measures were installed by the Israelis after an attack by Palestinians killed two Israeli policemen. They have now been removed by the Israelis in an attempt to quell the protests.

However, today (July 28) the compound was protected by heavy security, with police cordons were put in place at entrances and only those aged over 50 were allowed to pass.

Kadyrov has been the subject of a string of controversies, the latest centring on reports that gay men are being persecuted in Chechnya.

It is claimed that homosexual men are rounded up and placed in camps, before being subject to bullying and torture.

Kadyrov has denied the claims, suggesting that there is not a single gay man in Chechnya.