WASHINGTON -- The Clinton administration directly criticized Russia's handling of the Chechnya crisis for the first time yesterday, warning Moscow to stop its attacks against Chechen civilians.
The warning reflected growing concern that indiscriminate Russian bombing of civilian areas of Grozny, the Chechen capital, is undermining the government of President Boris N. Yeltsin and exposing the Clinton administration to the charge that its support of Russia's actions in the breakaway republic shows indifference to the lives of Chechen civilians.
"We are deeply disturbed by the bombing of the Grozny orphanage less than 24 hours after President Yeltsin ordered on Tuesday that 'bombing strikes which could lead to fatalities among the civilian population of Grozny be ruled out,' " the State Department said in a statement.
Bombing yesterday was concentrated on military and strategic targets.
Referring to Moscow's random bombing raids, the State Department pointedly warned the warring sides to respect the Geneva Convention regarding the protection of civilians.
Previously, the administration has said that the fighting in Chechnya was an internal affair to be handled by the Russians.
The administration still believes that Russia is entitled to impose order on the breakaway republic and that the territorial integrity of the Russian republic should be maintained, but has always expressed concern for the safety of civilians.
The administration's new criticism of the Russian bombing raids does not mean that it has dropped its basic support for the Russian government in its contest with the Chechens.
But the administration wants the Russians to conduct the operation in a more humane way and does not want Moscow to be too quick to resort to force in dealing with other crises, administration officials said.