(25 Mar 1999) Russian/Nat

Russian Ultra-nationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky has called for Russia to send volunteers to fight against NATO forces in Yugoslavia.

He said thousands of Europeans would die in the war and America would plunge into "another Vietnam".

Meanwhile a crowd of angry protestors continued their loud demonstration outside the U-S embassy in Moscow, throwing bottles and stones at the embassy building.

Russia took its opposition to NATO airstrikes on Yugoslavia a step further on Thursday.

It circulated a draft resolution in the Security Council that demands an immediate
halt to the bombings.

The Russians were expected to force a vote on the resolution as early as Friday - despite the U-S and Britain calling it unhelpful and announcing they would veto it.

Russia, along with China is demanding an immediate end to the allied assault.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the Russian Ultra-Nationalist leader, announced that popular opinion was in total opposition to NATO's actions.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"We have announced a call-up of volunteers. Units are being formed in every region of Russia. Gradually they are arriving in Moscow and as soon as we have transport, we'll send them to Yugoslavia."
SUPERCAPTION: Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Russian Ultra-Nationalist leader

Zhirinovsky said Belgrade would never surrender - and NATO had involved itself in an intractable situation.

He likened the situation in Kosovo to Vietnam.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"What country would agree to surrender without war. There will be no surrender because of the war either. It will be a long terrible war. Thousands of Europeans will die and the Americans will understand their mistake as they once understood in Vietnam."
SUPERCAPTION: Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Russian Ultra-Nationalist leader

And Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov said the attacks constituted a fascist onslaught.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"America is going down the way of fascist Germany, like Germany when it sent its troops in 1933 and 1934 to Spain, these ones (the Americans) are trying out their new technology in Iraq and Yugoslavia. Who's next? Who of you is sure tomorrow they won't announce that due to a possible humanitarian catastrophe in Chechnya they will have to bomb the region around Moscow? Who can be sure of that?"
SUPERCAPTION: Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov

Meanwhile hundreds of Russians and Serbian ex-patriots gathered outside the American embassy in Moscow to vent their anger at NATO airstrikes against Yugoslavia.

The crowd shouted "Down with America" and "Yankee go home".

Several eggs, bottles and other objects were thrown at American Coat-in-Arms at the facade of the Embassy.

Others lobbed ink bombs, splattering red, purple and green stains on the facade.

Police detained several protesters in brief scuffles outside the Moscow embassy.

Under the command of Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the crowd then moved to the British Embassy where egg-throwing process was repeated.

Many of the demonstrators called for Russia to take up arms against NATO.

Russia has found some support for its position from Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

He said force was legitimate but that the council should have been involved in any decision to use it.

Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ] ​​
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]


You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]

свернуть