CLINTON WAS HARDBALLING THE RUSSIANS OVER CHECHNYA.

AFX World news summary - Russia will pay 'heavy price' for Chechnya - Clinton

AFX.COM

December 7, 1999 Tuesday

Copyright 1999 AFX News Limited

Section: GENERAL; GOVERNMENT

Length: 387 words

Dateline: RAMALLAH, West Bank

Body

President Bill Clinton said yesterday that Russia would pay a "heavy price" for its actions in Chechnya, saying they are "intensifying extremism" and diminishing Moscow's standing in the world. Russian warplanes have dropped leaflets over Grozny telling all those still there to leave the city via a designated corridor. All people remaining in Grozny on Dec 11 would be "viewed as terrorists and bandits, and will be destroyed by artillery and aviation," the leaflets said, according to Russian television.

----------------------

A schoolboy, reportedly 12 or 13 year old, has been arrested and charged with trying to kill his classmates at an Oklahoma middle school after wounding four students, Agence France-Presse reported, citing a police officer. The boy arrived at Fort Gibson Middle School yesterday carrying a nine-millimeter pistol around 7:45 a.m. and shot one girl in the face and three boys in the arms and legs before he was overpowered by a school security officer , AFP said.

----------------------

The death toll from floods which struck central Vietnam has reached 109 with 21 people still missing, but rains have subsided and water levels are beginning to fall, officials said. "I think we can say the worst is over from the emergency point of view," said John Geoghagen, head of the delegation for the International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies in Vietnam. 

---------------------

Deposed Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif was flown from a Karachi jail to Islamabad overnight to appear before the country's Supreme Court in a contempt of court case amid heavy security.

Sharif faces a treason and murder conspiracy case relating to the storming of the Supreme Court by a mob reportedly comprising leaders and workers of his Pakistan Muslim League party on Nov 28, 1997. 

--------------------

Palestinians threatened to break off peace talks over Jewish settlements on occupied land, on the eve of U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's visit. The Palestinians are protesting over plans announced Sunday by the Israeli housing ministry to build a further 500 homes for Jews in two West Bank settlements, saying that interim peace agreements call for a halt to such unilateral actions while they are negotiating on a final peace deal.