Military fails to learn past lessons

MILITARY chiefs have been struggling to bring control to the chaotic aftermath of the siege at a school in southern Russia, an expert said.

The complicated layout of the site in Beslan with numerous entry and exit points has led to a great deal of confusion.

Authorities were unable to plan for their attack on the terrorists and had seemed ready to continue negotiations to end the crisis which began two days ago. Instead, fighting broke out between Chechen rebels and Russian soldiers after children tried to escape the school.