Snapshot of developments in Russian hostage crisis
(Reuters)
Updated: 2004-09-03 22:45

These are the key developments on Sept. 3, 2004, the day on which the hostage crisis involving hundreds of children and adults held by an armed gang at a school in Russia's North Ossetia, near rebel Chechnya, came to a bloody end.

NEWS

- Tass says gunmen are still firing from a building in the school compound

- Interfax says more than 10 of the school hostage-takers have been killed in shootouts with Russian troops, gunfire is still heard from other parts of town

- An Interfax correspondent says he saw more than 100 bodies in the school gym, Tass says more than 400 were wounded

- Russian forces had planned more talks, had not planned to assault the school, a senior Russian security official says

- Russian troops assault the school after gang fire on captives trying to escape amid large explosions

- Children in underwear run out from the school, are tended by medics and evacuated to hospitals by ambulances and cars

QUOTES

"We are here being confronted with a deep human tragedy," Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot says.

CHRONOLOGY

Wednesday

- Gunmen seize the hostages at a school in the North Ossetian town of Beslan on Wednesday, first day of school term. Between seven and 16 people are killed.

- Hostage-takers, numbering between 17 and 40, threaten to kill 50 children for every fighter killed.

- Within hours, nearly 50 children manage to escape. Gunmen set free 15 more.

- Putin breaks off his seaside holiday and returns to Moscow.

- Russia sends troops to guard nuclear facilities.

- Representative of Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov denies involvement by forces loyal to him.

- UN Security Council demands release of hostages.

Thursday

- Captors free 26 women and children.

- Putin calls off trip to Turkey.

Close

Today's Top News     Top World News
Reporter: Up to 100 bodies seen in Russia school gym         Russian commandos hunt down kidnappers         President greets fruitful Olympic delegation         China supports Russia against terrorism         Zeng Qinghong outlines CPC's major tasks         Hong Kong hopes to be Olympic venue	Russia hostages evacuated, commandos fighting kidnappers       Reporter: Up to 100 bodies seen in Russia school gym       Bloody end to Russian school siege       Freed Russian hostages: 1,500 held captive       UN warns Syria against interfering in Lebanon       French hostage transfer sparks release hopes