Chechen hijackers 'lose patience' in plane siege

Talks to bring the hijack of a Russian airliner to an end have stalled after the hijackers reportedly lost patience with negotiators.

Forty-six of the 174 people on board have reportedly either been freed or have escaped from the jet at Medina airport.

The Chechen hijackers were unhappy with the unspecified terms offered, Russia's ITAR-Tass news agency reports from Moscow.

There was no word on the hijackers' demands from Saudi officials. They say the hijackers had earlier asked to fly to Afghanistan from Medina.

A Saudi team of negotiators was having a hard time communicating with the hijackers, who spoke neither English nor Arabic.

A Chechen pilgrim in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj was found and taken to the control tower to translate.

The pilots locked themselves in the cockpit after landing at Medina and refused to open the door to the hijackers, airport officials say.

Russian diplomats are also at the airport, but the hijackers have refused to speak to them, Saudi officials say.