A NUMB Russia observed the first of two days of national of mourning yesterday for the hundreds of victims of the school siege while criticism mounted on the government over its handling of the situation.

A numb Russia observed the first of two days of national of mourning today for the hundreds of victims of the school siege while criticism mounted on the government over its handling of the situation.

Stunned Russians mourned the victims of the theatre hostage tragedy today, shocked that nearly all the 118 captives who died were killed by gas used to knock out their assailants - but relieved that hundreds of others were saved.