21.   A Chechen military spokesman told the Interfax news agency that the Russian offensive violated preparations for the talks, which called for a cease-fire by midnight Wednesday.

22.   A group of Russian lawmakers who returned from Grozny Monday pronounced the Russian offensive a failure.

23.   A fierce new Russian offensive unleashed last week targeted two southern villages, including the village of Makhkety, where military commanders say the rebel leader has his headquarters.

24.   A group of anti-war Russian lawmakers returned from Grozny and pronounced the Russian offensive a failure.

25.   A group of Russian lawmakers who returned from Grozny on Monday pronounced the Russian offensive a failure.

26.   Before the Russian offensive began in Chechnya, Grachev had boasted he could force the renegade republic into submission in less than two hours with a single parachute regiment.

27.   But increasingly, the Russian offensive appears aimed at restoring control over Chechnya.

28.   But fearing a Russian offensive to break their hold on the city, many have begun leaving, according to Panchenkov.

29.   But in Chechnya, new Russian offensives were reported, and top military officials said they had little faith in talks.

30.   But top Russian military officials were cool to the idea of talks and new Russian offensives were reported around the rebel strongholds of Vedeno and Shatoi in the south.