Seizure of hostages in Beslan continues a second dayTimur Aliyev, North Caucasus - The hostage situation in Beslan is still very disturbing. The authorities have not decided whether to continue negotiating with the terrorists or to attack. Meanwhile, the terrorists’ identities or their motives are still unknown.
According to unofficial information, Ruslan Aushev, the former Ingush president, and Mikhail Gutseriyev, an Ingush businessman and former deputy speaker of the Russian State Duma, entered the school to negotiate with the terrorists. This information, if true, seems to prove the rumor that at least some of the terrorists are Ingushetians.
The inhabitants of Beslan, however, are almost certain that their Ingush neighbors took part in the raid.
Local people and relatives of the hostages are waiting near the military cordon surrounding the seized school hoping to get some news. "Why are they keeping the children? Why did they have to seize a school? They should have attacked the Government instead," were the questions asked by the crowd.
According to Lev Dzugayev, head of the information and analytical department of the office of the North Ossetian President, the terrorists have so far released 12 children and 3 women. One of the women and her baby were transported to the local hospital.
The school No. 1 in the North Ossetian city of Beslan was seized by about 15-20 armed, masked men on September 1. According to official data, the terrorists are holding 354 hostages: pupils, their parents and teachers.
(S/E,T)
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