MOSCOW (voa) – Seven people have been released from a theater in Moscow where Chechen separatists are holding hundreds of people hostage. Russian security officials say the hostage takers have also agreed to release all foreigners from the building later Friday.
In the early hours of Friday morning, the Chechen rebels let seven people out of the building. Russian security officials said all of the seven were Russian citizens and included men and women.
It was not clear why the hostage-takers decided to release some people. An official at the scene said negotiations are continuing.
A group of about 40 heavily armed Chechen men and women stormed a theater Wednesday night and have been holding hundreds of people hostage inside.
The hostage-takers are demanding independence for the breakaway Russian republic of Chechnya, where Russian soldiers have been fighting Chechen separatists for three years.
Some Russian reporters were allowed into the theater early Friday. Russia’s NTV television later showed the first footage of the hostage-takers. Some of them appeared to have explosives taped around their waists, appearing to confirm early reports that they would blow up the building if their demands were not met.
UNITED NATIONS (Elaine Johanson, voa) – The United Nations Security Council Thursday condemned the taking of hostages in Moscow by Chechen guerrillas, and urged all governments to cooperate with Russian authorities in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
In a unanimous vote, the Security Council reiterated its position that no act of terrorism is justified. Besides the hostage situation in Moscow, the Council also condemned recent terrorist acts elsewhere, such as the bombing in Bali and the explosion on a French tanker in the Gulf.
The Council acted swiftly on the Russian resolution. Diplomats say it shows the U.N. body’s commitment to fighting international terrorism. That determination became more visible in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attack on the United States last year.
As for the Chechen issue itself and rebel demands that Russian troops leave their territory, it is something the Security Council has not been involved in or taken a position on. Russia is a key member of the Council with veto power and would not be likely to allow any criticism of its actions.
