Russian special forces end theatre siege

Russian special forces have freed all of the captives held at a Moscow theatre by Chechen rebels.

At least 20 bodies were seen being taken from the theatre after a night of explosions and gunfire.

Some of the bodies were hostages, Russian news agencies say. The leader of the rebels was also killed.

A spokesman for the Federal Security Service says most of the hostage takers have been killed.

He added that the operation to free the hostages began when the Chechen rebels began executing the captives.

Deputy interior minister Vladimir Vasilyev said that by storming the building, special forces "had managed to avoid a large number of casualties".

Mr Vasilyev says about three dozen of the estimated 50 hostage-takers were killed, but that some apparently managed to escape.

Russian special forces used sleeping gas in the raid on the theatre, state-controlled ORT television reports.

The kind of gas is not immediately known. Hospitals report that many of the freed captives were unconscious or unable to walk when brought there by buses.

Earlier, officials said two hostages were killed and two injured. Two women escaped as soldiers armed with assault rifles were seen moving towards the theatre, and two more ran from the building later.