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| Caucasus |
| 16 dead so far in North Ossetia stand-off, Bush offers assistance |
| 2004-09-02 |
| Armed militants with explosives strapped to their bodies stormed a Russian school in a region bordering Chechnya on Wednesday, corralling hundreds of hostages —many of them children— into a gymnasium and threatening to blow up the building if surrounding Russian troops attacked. Casualty reports varied widely. At least two people were confirmed killed, including a school parent, but an official in the command operation said on condition of anonymity early Thursday that 16 people were killed 12 inside the school, two who died in a hospital and two others whose bodies still lay outside and could not be removed because of gunfire. The official said 13 were wounded. Camouflage-clad special forces carrying assault rifles encircled Middle School No. 1 in the North Ossetian town of Beslan. Earlier, a little girl in a flowered dress fled the school holding a soldier's hand; officials said about a dozen other people managed to escape by hiding in a boiler room. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #2 "In essence, war has been declared on us, where the enemy is unseen and there is no front," Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov told reporters before the hostage-taking. Sounds like the ole' bear is waking up, but very slowly. Personally, I think if this goes on a little longer there will be a "accidental" media blackout there and "poof" the goons will be dealt with! However, this "In essence"/"unseen enemy" crap has got to stop. Much like 9/11 for us, if you look back there have been MANY acts of war declared on us that should've been answered with our own declaration of war! And we (RBers) know who the enemy is, they're NOT unseen! I pray for those kids, though, who are caught up in the middle of this mess. Haven't heard much from Gentle now, have we? |
| Posted by: BA 2004-09-02 11:06:20 AM |
| #1 well i guess the proven "useless" UN did their jobs. I bet when the criminals hear that the UN security council called for them too give up they will just drop on the ground in fright. What are they gonna do next call for sanctions against the attackers? |
| Posted by: smokeysinse 2004-09-02 10:26:59 AM |