Diplomat's questioning of how Russia handled siege a 'misunderstanding'

FOREIGN Minister Brian Cowan yesterday stepped in to defend the Dutch EU presidency after a row with Russia over the hostage tragedy in Beslan.

All the EU's 25 members condemned the terrorist activity that led to the death of more than 350 people, mainly children, in the Russian republic of North Ossetia.

However Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot released a statement on Friday night that appeared to question the role of the Russian military in the tragedy.