Russian President Boris Yeltsin

In the 50-minute talk, Yeltsin again insisted on the necessity of immediately halting the use of force against the sovereign Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the statement said.

Announcing the conversation this morning, Yeltsin told reporters he would be asking Clinton primarily to stop the airstrikes and return to political talks.

Moscow is willing to mediate between Belgrade and Washington, Yeltsin stressed.

"Let's stop the bombing, sit down at the conference table and solve the problem," the Russian president said.