The confusion surrounding Mr. Dudayev sparked furious speculation about the bitter war, which has already killed more than 35,000 and which may cost President Boris N. Yeltsin's his chance for re-election.

But we also want to keep supporting (Russian President Boris) Yeltsin.

"With one voice, all the leading political figures are asking [President Boris] Yeltsin to resign," he wrote.

But never before had Moscow seen anything like President Boris N. Yeltsin's on-line chat on the Web site maintained by MSNBC.

The Chechen war is seen as his war, escalated at his initiative in 1999 when he was prime minister under President Boris N. Yeltsin.

But President Boris N. Yeltsin's Western advisers, in particular, Jeffrey Sachs, draw a starkly different conclusion.

Why not, indeed: With much fanfare, Vice President Al Gore struck the swords-to-plowshares deal with President Boris N. Yeltsin in 1993.

As usual, the proposed solution tries to have it both ways, with President Boris N. Yeltsin neither cracking down on the companies nor paying all their bills.

That candidate was Maj. Gen. Aleksandr Korzhakov, 46, who is President Boris N. Yeltsin's archenemy and former best friend.

Following is a transcript of yesterday's televised speech to the nation by President Boris N. Yeltsin of Russia, as translated by The Associated Press.