A Battle of Nerves in Russia

As the hostage crisis in the Russian province of North Ossetia dragged into its third day, the fear and uncertainty of relatives grew. Reports circulating in the media contradict official statements by provincial leaders and Moscow. Meanwhile negotiations with the armed hostage-takers -- a band of about 20 men and women strapped with explosive belts -- continued on and off throughout the night. No immediate end to the conflict is in sight.

Citing harrowing accounts from the 26 women and children released Thursday, the Russian and international press reported that well over 1,000 people are being held in the school, deprived of food, water and medication.

"You know there are not 300 people in there, but all together 1,500," 27-year-old Zalina Dzandarova, one of the 26 hostages freed, told the daily Kommersant. "People are lying on top of each other," she said, describing the stifling conditions in the packed gym, where the gunmen herded pupils and adults after they stormed the building on the first day back to school.

Dzandarova, who was allowed to leave with her three-year-old daughter, said that initially the hostage-takers allowed elder pupils to fetch water from the showers next to the gym, but then refused their captives water as demands of talks with local leaders were not met. "They were no longer giving water to anyone, not even to the children," she recalled.

Her comments were echoed by a released teacher, who was interviewed by the daily Izvestia. "On television they say that there are 350 of us. That's not right. There's not less than 1,500 in the school," she said refuting the official reports.

Also Friday, local legislator Azamat Kadykov told a meeting packed with worried relatives that the number of hostages was "more or less 1,000."

Uncertainty

The statements were a blow to the morale of hostages' relatives, who have spent the last three days tormented by dread and alarmed by the sound of gunshots and grenades fired from the building. The initial hope over the release of dozens of women and children on Thursday has turned into an anxious battle of nerves for those whose loved ones still remain captive in the school.

Attempting to ease the worry of the relatives, Leonid Roshal, a pediatrician who has been involved in the negotiations, said that all the children inside were alive. Commenting on reports that the hostage-takers withheld food, water and medication, the doctor said that children could endure up to eight days without nourishment as long as they had at least something to drink.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said everything possible would be done to end the "horrible" crisis and save the lives of the children and adults. But for many observers it was still uncertain how much either side was willing to give to avoid bloodshed.

No clear demands

Reports after the stand-off began Wednesday and information from witnesses inside the school said the attackers had demanded the release of people jailed after attacks on police posts that killed more than 90 people in neighboring Ingushetia in June. But officials said the gunmen had not clearly formulated their demands.

After negotiations during the night, Alan Doyev, a spokesman for the North Ossetia Interior Ministry, said that "so far we have not heard the terrorists' clearly formulated demands." The militants' identity also remains uncertain.

Lev Dzugayev, an aide to the president of North Ossetia, said the attackers might be from Chechnya or Ingushetia. Law enforcement sources in North Ossetia and Ingushetia, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the attackers were believed to include Chechens, Ingush, Russians and a North Ossetian suspected of participating in the Ingushetia violence.