BESLAN. Sept 1 (Interfax-South) - The Interior Ministry troops are currently refraining from carrying out any actions to release hostages who are being held in a school in the North Ossetian town of Beslan, North Ossetian Interior Minister Kazbek Dzantiyev told the press.
Dzantiyev said the hostage-takers handed over a note to the crisis center, in which they threatened to kill 50 hostages for each man killed from their group and 20 hostages for each man wounded.
"Therefore the Interior Ministry troops are not taking any active steps," Dzantiyev said.
The minister said at least two hostages have been killed and two others wounded. He said he does not have information that some of the children were harmed.
Commenting on a fire that broke out near the seized school some time ago, Dzantiyev said it was caused by a "tracer bullet that hit a house."