US Toughens Chechnya Talk but Has Little Leverage ; as Strains Grow between the US and Russia, American Officials Worry

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Relations between the White House and the Kremlin are becoming more tenuous with each Russian military advance into the lawless republic of Chechnya.

US officials were relatively silent a month ago at the start of the operation, which is aimed at crushing Islamic rebels. But since fighting drove more than 170,000 residents from their homes, and a rocket attack on a market killed more than 100 people, US officials have labeled the offensive "deplorable and ominous."

President Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright have at least 10 times directly urged Russian officials to stop fighting and start peace talks with the Chechens, an administration …