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DATE=12/8/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-256960
BYLINE=OWEN FAY
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Widespread international condemnation of 
Russia's bombardment of Chechnya may be having some 
effect.  After delivering what amounted to an 
ultimatum to the residents of Chechnya's capital, 
Grozny, Russia now says it is just warning civilians 
to leave in order to guarantee their safety.  Owen Fay 
reports from Moscow.
TEXT:  Russia's Interior Minister, Vladimir Rushailo, 
said Wednesday that the reason more civilians have  
not  yet left Grozny is that the security corridor 
still is being prepared.  Mr. Rushailo said the route 
out of the Chechen capital will be secured by Saturday 
and will remain open as long as it takes civilians to 
leave.
This seems to contradict the wording of an ultimatum 
issued Monday which specifically ordered residents out 
of Grozny by this coming weekend.  And analysts say it 
may indicate a change of plans by Russian officials.  
They say the past two days has seen so much 
international criticism of the Russian ultimatum that 
it is possible Moscow is reconsidering its position.
But, at least one Moscow-based defense analyst thinks 
the bombing will continue.  The analyst, Pavel 
Felganhauer, says that even if the deadline is 
extended, civilians still will come under fire.  And 
he says that despite claims to the contrary, this 
latest Russian strategy violates international laws of 
military conduct.
            ///  FELGENHAUER ACT  ///
Of course, such a bombardment would be a war crime.  
They'll be using so-called aerosol bombs or vacuum 
bombs that can penetrate dugouts, bunkers and kill 
everyone inside of course, including civilians.  It 
totally flies in the face of the Geneva conventions.  
But I'm afraid the Russians generals have never even 
read them.
            ///  END ACT  ///
Russia's armed forces say they are concentrating their 
fire strictly at military targets and  not  on 
innocent civilians trapped in and around Grozny.  But 
in the past 24 hours, military planes have flown more 
than 150 missions and it is  not  clear how pilots can 
know the difference.  (Signed)
NEB/OF/JWH/ENE
08-Dec-1999 08:02 AM EDT (08-Dec-1999 1302 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.