Putin vows to do all he can to save hostages

RUSSIAN president Vladimir Putin, vowed he would do all he could to save hundreds of children, parents and teachers held hostage in a school gym by armed militants.

The gunmen, who threatened to blow up the school in North Ossetia in the turbulent Caucasus region, yesterday freed 26 children and women from among at least 350 hostages.

"It's all over, you're okay," a burly soldier in fatigues, automatic gun slung over his shoulder, whispered as he carried a wailing child of about three months past an armoured vehicle.

"Twenty-six people have now been freed, children and women," North Ossetian spokesman Lev Dzugayev said.

Another official said those freed included 15 children and 11 women.

At least seven people died when the gunmen stormed the school. The International Red Cross, quoting their Russian colleagues, said up to 16 may have died.

Paediatrician Leonid Roshal, also taking part in telephone talks with the attackers, described the hostage release as a "big victory" "But if you look at the broader picture, it is a drop in the ocean. There is plenty of work ahead," Mr Roshal said.

The gunmen, Mr Roshal said, were still refusing requests to allow food and water into the school.

Mr Putin, facing one of the hardest choices in 4-1/2 years in the Kremlin, said authorities were focusing on saving lives.

"Our main task is to save the life and health of those who have ended up as hostages," Mr Putin told Jordan's King Abdullah in the Kremlin.

"All the actions of our forces ... will be devoted to solving this task."

Valery Andreyev, head of Russia's FSB security service in North Ossetia province, said: "There is no question at the moment of opting for force. There will be a lengthy and tense process of negotiation."

Mr Putin put off a visit to Turkey.

The hostage-taking and a bombing on Tuesday that killed 10 people outside a Moscow underground station prompted Mayor Yuri Luzhkov to cancel many events linked to this weekend's annual Moscow Day festivities.

Relatives maintained a vigil near the school, pleading with authorities to keep security forces from storming the building.

"It is not possible to storm the building. They will blow up the children," said Luda, her son among those held.

Mr Putin must decide whether to risk a slaughter by following past practice of using troops to end such sieges, or break a long-held vow not to negotiate with terrorists.

He made a similar commitment to do all he could to save hostages in a 2002 Moscow theatre siege. When troops stormed the building, 129 hostages and 41 guerrillas were killed.

Russia is in the grip of a spate of attacks authorities say are the work of Chechen separatists. Two passenger planes crashed nearly simultaneously last week, killing 90 people.

Officials say the gunmen will talk only to Mr Roshal or regional leaders and have threatened to kill 50 children for each of their comrades killed.