A court declared oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky guilty of an array of charges today in a trial widely criticised as politically motivated, sentencing him to nine years in prison minus time served.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he will fight terror by consolidating security agencies and further tightening political control over the country.

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.

A numb Russia observed a national day of mourning for the more than 350 victims of the terrorist school seizure today, while desperate families searched for the missing in grief-stricken Beslan and criticism of the government mounted.

President Vladimir Putin promised Russians affordable housing, education and health care as he shrugged off allegations of authoritarian trends in his state of the nation address today.