Grozny, 27 October 1999 (RFE/RL) - Chechen President Aslan
Maskhadov today ruled out holding any further peace negotiations with
Moscow and called on leaders of neighboring southern Russian republics to rally behind his embattled region. In a press conference in Chechnya's capital Grozny, Maskhadov said it was useless to have talks with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin because the Russian leader "was only looking for revenge." He said the only way to end the war for the leaders of Russia's North Caucasus region is to say "Hands off Chechnya."