(29 Mar 1999) Russian/Nat
Russian riot police armed with Kalashnikovs have sealed off the U-S embassy in Moscow, the day after terrorists attempted to launch a grenade at the building.
Special forces did not allow any demonstrators near the building in central Moscow, where demonstrations have taken place since NATO started airstrikes on Yugoslavia.
But Russian politicians once again spoke of their concern at the action being taken against the forces of Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic.
Days of anti U-S demonstrations have taken their toll on the American embassy in central Moscow.
Russian police searched on Monday for gunmen who fired on the building a day earlier, in an attack apparently linked to Russian protests against NATO airstrikes in Yugoslavia.
Unknown gunmen had attempted to launch a grenade at the embassy, which led to a gun battle with police.
No one was hurt in the incident and no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
But the country has numerous extremist groups that regard the United States as an enemy of Russia and many regular civilians deeply against strikes on Yugoslavia.
The embassy was open for business as usual but security was tight.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"We have sealed off the building of the embassy and the adjacent territory. We took such measures after the incident yesterday."
SUPER CAPTION: Police Lieutenant
The large Russian police presence on Monday far outnumbered the demonstrators who have gathered outside the embassy every day since the NATO bombings began last week.
Russia has been a harsh critic of the airstrikes, but its response has so far been limited to mostly symbolic actions, such as suspending contact with NATO.
But their are intense concerns at the possibility of high civilian causalities as a result of the NATO action.
Speaker Gennady Seleznov, said the Duma was sending a commission to Yugoslavia to investigate the matter.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"I myself would like to find out the true figures (casualties), I'd like to see the planes that have been shot down, I'd like to see the wounded that are suffering because of these barbaric airstrikes. The press should show all this in detail. I'd like to see it with my own eyes."
SUPER CAPTION: Gennady Seleznov, Duma speaker
Meanwhile, Russian sources have claimed Yugoslav forces used Russian weaponry to bring down an American "Stealth" bomber, on Sunday.
And some Russian officials have suggested that Moscow break the international arms embargo against the Balkan nation.
Nationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky repeated his call for Russia to deliver arms to Yugoslavia, including the state-of-the-art S-300 anti-aircraft system.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"We have the most powerful anti-aircraft system in the world, the Russian system. The S-300 is already out of date. We have the S-400. We can shoot down any aeroplane, even the Stealth bomber, any cruise missile long before they cross the border. We have anti-ship missiles which can destroy the ships from where the airstrikes are launched."
SUPER CAPTION: Nationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky
It's not clear how much sway Moscow has with President Milosevic.
Russia was part of the six-nation Contact Group that mediated between Yugoslavia and Kosovo's ethnic Albanians.
And Boris Yeltsin's government has encouraged Belgrade to sign a political agreement that would give Kosovo autonomy.
But both Russia and Yugoslavia are opposed to stationing NATO troops in Kosovo to implement the agreement.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
