By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

c The Associated Press

MOSCOW (Feb. 4) - Using language seldom heard since the Cold War, President Boris Yeltsin on Wednesday warned President Clinton that he could ignite a world war if he orders military action against Iraq.

''One must be careful in a world that is saturated with all kinds of weapons, some of them in the hands of terrorists,'' Yeltsin said. ''By his actions, Clinton might run into a world war. He's acting too loudly, too loudly.''

A few hours later, presidential spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky assailed foreign media, claiming some of them interpreted Yeltsin's warning as a threat by Moscow to retaliate for an attack on Iraq.

''One can hardly imagine a more ridiculous and absurd interpretation,'' Yastrzhembsky told reporters.

However, aside from Yeltsin's reference to terrorists, neither the president nor his spokesman offered any explanation for how a conflict around Iraq might escalate into a global war.

The Russian leader has a long record of making vague statements that spark controversy and are later disavowed by his aides. While making the televised remarks, Yeltsin looked grim and appeared to be speaking off the cuff.

Russia is strongly opposed to the use of force against Iraq to make it comply with U.N. weapons inspections, but Moscow and Washington have previously tried to avoid criticizing each other.

AP-NY-02-04-98 1300EST

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