RUSSIA: CHECHNYA: CHECHENS SHELTER FROM BOMBING

Russian/Nat Russian President Boris Yeltsin's strong stance against the rebels in Chechnya has received the tacit support of the White House. Secretary of State Warren Christopher says Yeltsin has been urged to minimize bloodshed and it was not in the interest of America nor Russia to have Russia disintegrating. As Christopher spoke, Chechnya's defiant president angrily withdrew his delegates from peace talks with Moscow as Russian planes and helicopters opened machine-gun fire on the region's capital and bombed its outskirts. The village of Pervomaiskoye has seen some of the heaviest fighting in the conflict between Russia and the breakaway republic of Chechnya. Civilians has been forced to flee as Russian troops fired a barrage of shells onto the town. Women and children found refuge in this bunker. There is little food or water, but they are just happy to be alive and away from the fighting. SOUNDBITE: \"I live in the city (Grozny) and I came here thinking it would be safer and look where I ended up.\" SUPER CAPTION: Grozny refugee. Chechen soldiers keep watch on Russian armaments strategically placed in the hills. The Russian manpower and machinery far outnumbers the one Chechen tank they have in the village, about 14 kilometres (9 miles) north of the capital Grozny. Helicopter gunships hover overhead firing air to surface missiles at Chechen rebels. Russian tanks are now moving into positions in and around Grozny, the rebels are simply out matched by the might of the Russian army with a massive deployment of personnel and machinery. This Russian helicopter was shot down by Chechens at Shaami Yurt, 40 kilometres from Grozny. The rebels are jubilated they've been able to put a dent into the Russian air offensive, even if it is only one helicopter. But the cost remains high for the Chechen rebels. One of their colleagues is found dead in a ditch on the side of the road. And in a Grozny hospital, medical staff are starting to treat a growing number of casualties. This doctor says if there is a major attack, the medical facilities will not be able to cope. SOUNDBITE: \"That is a very difficult question, we have only two operating tables and even if we operate with desperate speed you still need on average one hour per patient. You can imagine well enough our limitations.'' SUPER CAPTION: Doctor Umar Khandive.. Negotiations for a settlement between Russia and Chechen's renegade president Dzhokhar Dudayev have collapsed signalling a painful end to the conflict. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/1ca7e4b3bb6d83272ccab6a84f2c4bc6 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork