December 10, 1999
Web posted at: 2:19 p.m. EST (1919 GMT)

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GUDERMES, Russia (CNN) -- As Russian jets and mortar fire maintained a relentless bombardment of the Chechen capital of Grozny on Friday, Russia seemed to back off its warning that civilians flee Grozny by Saturday or be destroyed.

Russian Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu downplayed the significance of the Saturday deadline. He said Russian forces are willing to pause in their attacks so that civilians can leave the city and that buses will be deployed on six routes to take refugees to Russian-controlled territory in the north.

VIDEO There is no functioning government in Chechnya. CNN's Steve Harrigan says this is causing problems for civilians. (December 10) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K CNN's Matthew Chance reports Russia-U.S. relations have suffered due to Chechnya (December 9) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K     MESSAGE BOARD Russia's future

Earlier this week, Russian planes began dropping leaflets on Grozny warning residents to get out by Saturday or face an overwhelming barrage from Russian guns. Russian planes dropped an additional 70,000 leaflets on Friday.

"People of Grozny," the leaflets said, "Russian troops have fully blocked the city. To prevent casualties among civilians, we advise you to leave Grozny by December 11. Use all the opportunities you have. Don't fall to provocations by bandits and terrorists."

But Shoigu denied the warning was a final deadline. "There is no deadline. Everything will be all right. What deadline? Is tomorrow the end of the world?" he asked reporters.

A Chechen commander, however, maintained there was no safe way out of Grozny. Chechen field commander Akhmed Basmukayev, whose unit had held positions in the southern town of Urus-Martan, before it was overrun by Russian forces, said he had learned from fellow commanders in Grozny that civilians are trapped inside.

"The city is being constantly fired upon and civilians are also afraid to leave after Russians last weekend opened fire on a convoy of refugees near (the village of) Goity," he said.

According to accounts, some 4,000 to 6,000 militants and 10,000 to 40,000 civilians are holed up in Grozny, sheltering in cellars as the fighting rages overhead. Many of the remaining civilians are old or infirm .

"Most people are unaware ... because they live in basements and didn't see the Russian leaflets," said Slaman Kaziyev, a refugee in his 60s.

Shoigu indicated he was prepared to negotiate with Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov and leading rebel field commanders to discuss evacuating civilians from the capital.

"I am ready to meet anyone -- the devil, Maskhadov, (Chechen spokesman Movladi) Udugov, (field commander Shamil) Basayev -- provided it produces results and they let civilians -- old people, women and children -- leave Grozny," he said.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he has already been in contact with Chechen representatives, but talks so far have accomplished little.

Putin, the driving force behind the campaign, had previously rejected Maskhadov's proposals for talks to resolve the conflict in Chechnya. Russia claims the Chechen leader lacks control over the province and has not distanced himself from radical warlords.

Russia's offensive in Chechnya, which began in September, has drawn strong criticism from U.S. and European leaders, who have urged Moscow to seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

But Russian President Boris Yeltsin, wrapping up a two-day visit to China, again warned the West not to meddle in Russia's internal affairs.

"A tough policy will be pursued until the nest of terrorism in the North Caucasus is destroyed," presidential spokesman Dmitry Yakushkin said in Beijing as Yeltsin wrapped up a trip to China.

At a Russian checkpoint just to the northwest of Grozny, a new burst of refugees poured into Russian territory on Friday.

The checkpoint in Pervomaiskaya was opened on Tuesday, but fewer than a dozen people turned up on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Russian military said.

"Refugees have been slow to come because they were afraid of shelling," said Col. Sergei Malyovanny, who was in charge of the checkpoint.

However, 183 refugees arrived between midday Thursday and midday Friday, he said. The checkpoint will remain open as long as there are refugees who want to leave Grozny, he added. As he spoke, nearby artillery guns fired on the city.

Natasha Kozyreva, who fled Grozny with her teenage daughter, said she had long wanted to leave the besieged city, but was filled with fear.

"Snipers sit on the hills, and we were afraid getting in the line of their fire," she said.

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

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