Report says Chechen gunman have shot hostage

The ITAR-Tass news agency reported today that Chechen gunmen had shot one of the hundreds of hostages being held in a Moscow theatre.

The report, which did not immediately give details, came as the crisis dragged into its 20th hour.

It also came as a top Russian liberal MP headed to the Kremlin to report on demands that the hostage-takers had made in a meeting with her.

Officials and hostages had said that the main demand of the rebels is to end the war in Chechnya.