61.  The United States urged the Russian leadership to uphold the agreement and prevent a return to the fighting in Chechnya.

62.  They suggested that the ceasefire proposals were not taken seriously by the Russian leadership, but were needed to appease international and domestic horror at the escalating bloodshed.

63.  Zorin offered no explanation for why the Russian leadership would be so much more popular among Chechens than among Russians themselves.

64.  Moderates here believe he is the only one among the Russian leadership with the clout to negotiate a way out.

65.  Saying they were encouraged by the commitment to economic and political reform shown by the Russian leadership, they pledged to support continuing reforms there.

66.  Russian government official and Yeltsin aides admitted that the union project had created a rift in the Russian leadership.

67.  Russian news agency Interfax said three Russian radar stations had warned the Russian leadership Wednesday morning of a missile launch from Norwegian territory.

68.  The decision to expel them was taken after the Russian leadership had studied detailed information on their espionage activities, he said.

69.  The official attitude in Bonn is one of understanding for a Russian leadership having to contend with the negative social effects of its reforms.

70.  The rebels are holding out for high-level talks between Dudayev and the top Russian leadership, including Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin and President Boris Yeltsin.