World News 02-09-2004 School Hostage Crisis Day Two who: Interior Minister Kazbek Dzantiyev what: Says Chechen militants in school hostage crisis have threatened to kill 50 children if one of them is harmed where: North Ossetia, Russia when: Yesterday snippet: "The Russian authorities have held preliminary talks with an armed group who have taken over a school, as the siege enters a second day," reports the BBC this morning. "The hostage takers want Russian troops to leave Chechnya and the release of Chechen rebels held in Ingushetia." "Known as `knowledge day` in Russia, 1 September is traditionally a day of celebration when many over-excited children sporting new bags and books start at a new school," says The Independent. "School number one in Beslan, with its 900 pupils and 60 teachers, was no different and there was an almost carnival atmosphere as children made their way towards the main hall for a special inauguration ceremony." "The promise and expectation of the first day of term evaporated," says The Guardian, as 17 gunmen, "some wrapped in explosives", ran into the school courtyard "sparking Russia`s most serious domestic crisis since the Dubrovka theatre siege two years ago". Kazbek Dzantiyev, North Ossetia`s Interior Minister, "said they were threatening to shoot 50 children for every one of their number who was killed and that they had set explosives around the hostages," says The Telegraph. "Thousands of soldiers, policemen, intelligence agents and emergency workers sealed off the area around School No 1." "The attack on the school came a day after a suicide bomber - believed to be a Chechen woman - killed ten people in Moscow," recalls The Scotsman, "and a week after 90 died when two Russian airliners were blown up shortly after the planes left the Russian capital." [... more]

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