Police in Russia were today keeping the hundreds of survivors of a siege at a Moscow cinema under virtual arrest today at hospitals throughout the city, fearing that Chechan hostage-takers may be among them.

More than 750 survivors of the Moscow hostage-taking were tonight recovering from their ordeal which ended this morning when Russian special forces stormed the theatre where they had been held by Chechen gunmen.

Russian special forces have freed all of the captives held at a Moscow theatre by Chechen rebels.