Enrico Franceschini, La Repubblica, is asked to enter the White House to take an appeal from Rutskoi to the outside world. He is dressed in camouflage suit and white trainers, Kalashnikov slung over his shoulder in a fourth-floor, darkened room. He is accompanied by Defence Minister Achalov, Baburin, leader of Russian Unity and Rumyantsev, social democrat.

"I would like you to pass a message to the foreign ambassadors. Only they can help us. We have intercepted radio messages in which the order was given to kill us. We will leave here only if the Western ambassadors guarantee our lives will be spared. We trust only them. Otherwise we will be shot as soon as we stick our heads out of this room. Tell your ambassador. It is our only condition for surrender.

Do you have any proof that they want to kill you ?
"I have some tapes. I heard the order go out from the Interior Minister, Viktor Yerin. Ruslan ! Come, Ruslan.
[Khasbulatov] "It is a  tragedy. You can see for yourselves what they have done. Look at the state of the Russian parliament, look at all the deaths ...

Mr Khasbulatov, what do you want from western diplomats ?
"We want only to surrender under their protection. With them guaranteeing our safety. We ask that the safety of all of us, of the women, the wounded, the children, be guaranteed."

Are you negotiating with President Yeltsin ? Have you proposed terms for surrender ?
"The deputy Oleg Rumyantsev is in contact with [Oleg] Lobov. He has promised us there will be talks, but we are not convinced. Therefore we are asking for the intervention of western ambassadors.
[Rutskoi, lighting a Marlboro] "There are more than 500 dead in the parliament .. Yeltsin sent in the Mayor of Moscow's special troops, the Kremlin's crack guards - people who shoot to kill .."

But you too, general, issued orders to kill. Yesterday you ordered an attack on the television station, the mayor'S office, the Kremlin ...
"That's not true. Not true at all. I gave no such order. The television studio was spontaneously stormed by the crowd, by demonstrators who had marched all day in the streets of Moscow."

But among them are fascists, ultra-nationalists and Stalinists. Didn't you know that ?
"All sorts of people flocked to defend the parliament. We couldn't send them home. We couldn't control their actions. And above and beyond their different ideological beliefs, they all oppose Yeltsin's anti-constitutional acts.

And you, Mr Khasbulatov, don't you feel at least a little guilty for what has happened ?
"We are all guilty. But judge for yourselves who has stained his hands with all this blood."
[Rutskoi] "Do you know why I would like to get out of here alive ? To tell what really happened in this battle. When Yeltsin's troops entered the square they started shooting wildly. We only opened fire in response, in self-defence. Do you think it is easy, staying in here, under fire ?" "I am not afraid for myself, but for those closest to me .. I have only two brothers left, and they are here with me in parliament. I don't want them to die like this."