POLL SAYS RUSSIANS WANT NEGOTIATIONS.

On February 1 at 10:48 p.m., the website Presscenter.ru, citing a report concerning a recent poll taken by VTsIOM, the results of which had just been aired over Ekho Moskvy Radio, wrote: “More than half of Russians [rossiyan] believe that it is necessary to begin negotiations with the Chechen rebels. This is the first time in recent years that the number of those advocating a peaceful path has exceeded 50 percent.” Precisely one minute later, at 10:29 p.m., the same website, citing Interfax, reported that: “In the opinion of 39 percent of Russians, the government of Russia must act more harshly in Chechnya in order to get at the rebels and destroy their bases.” Once again a poll which had been taken by VTsIOM was cited as the source for this information.