A Russian soldier

December 7, 1999
Web posted at: 2:57 p.m. EST (1957 GMT)

In this story: Humane warning, not ultimatum, general says Tens of thousands may still be in Grozny RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports

MOSCOW (CNN) -- While international condemnation of Russia's campaign in Chechnya grows louder with each bomb that falls on the breakaway republic, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday that the family of Chechnya's president was in Russian custody.

Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov's wife, daughter and son reportedly came to Russia for protection.

Russian officials, CNN's Matthew Chance reported, suggested that Chechnya's leader now felt so threatened by Russian attacks that he sent his family into areas controlled by Russia.

That is precisely the message of an ultimatum issued Tuesday to residents of the Chechen capital, Grozny: Abandon the city by Saturday or you will be considered a terrorist and destroyed.

Russia pursued Islamic militants into Chechnya in September after the rebels twice invaded neighboring Russian republic of Dagestan.

Russian officials consider those militants "terrorists" and "bandits," also blaming them for a series of deadly bombings inside Russia. The rebels deny responsibility for the bomb attacks.

After quickly securing the north of Chechnya, which was left out of Moscow's control when a humiliated Russia withdrew its troops at the end of a 1994-1996 war, the Russians moved to surround Grozny.

The ultimatum, printed on leaflets and dropped into the capital, outraged international leaders. U.S. President Bill Clinton warned that Russia would "pay a heavy price," while German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer called Russia's actions "completely unacceptable."

Russian Army Gen. Vladimir Bulgakov denied he'd issued an ultimatum, however.

"I am being humane," the general said. "I repeat that armed resistance is useless ...it was a warning and a demand made to the bandits. But all the rest, there was no talk of an ultimatum, a storming or insidious bombing. There was a warning."

Fleeing Chechens packed up the most essential belongings

Russia says it has moved enough military equipment into the area around Grozny to raze the city to the ground -- a threat that has brought a fresh wave of refugees streaming from the city. But not everyone has the means or the strength to make it out.

As many as 45,000 people -- many too old, too young, too afraid or too sick to escape -- may still be trapped in the capital.

"My father can't get out," said one woman. "He is sick. I could only bring my mother. I have no hope left."

Russia says it has opened a safe corridor out of Grozny, but with bombs still falling, the safety of that escape route was uncertain.

"People can't even walk from one house to the next," said Larisa Khutsiyeva, a refugee from Alkhan-Yurt just outside of Grozny.

Correspondents Matthew Chance, Steve Harrigan, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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