Gunfire still being heard at hostage school

Heavy gunfire could still be heard from around the school in Russia where children and adults were being held hostage since Wednesday, although the ITAR-Tass news agency reported that troops were in full control of the building.

More than 150 children were taken to hospital and paramedics were seen entering the school with stretchers.

The siege began on Wednesday morning – the first day of the Russian school year – when about two dozen suicide gunmen and women burst into the school in the small town of Beslan near the Chechan border.

The school was packed with parents and children – 350 said officials – 1,500 said locals.

Fearing a repeat of the end to the Moscow theatre siege when more than 120 captives died, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised that force would only be used as a final resort to end the school stand-off.

The attackers – who wore suicide bomb belts around their waists – were demanding an independent Chechnya.

Negotiators reported making little progress in talks with the hostage takers who yesterday freed about 30 mothers and infants.

One of those freed described a frightening scene

“You know, there aren’t 350 people in there, but 1,500 in all. People are lying one on top of another,” Zalina Dzandarova, a 27-year-old woman, told the newspaper Kommersant.