On the Third Hand…

Snapshot of developments in Russian hostage crisis

* Russian authorities rule out for now the use of force to end the day-old hostage crisis at a southern Russia school where gunmen have seized about 350 children and adults.

* President Putin postpones a visit to Turkey as the hostage crisis tests his resolve not to negotiate with “terrorists”. Kremlin remains silent on the crisis which bears the hallmarks of a Chechen operation.

* Paediatrician Lev Roshal, who helped negotiate the release of children in a Moscow theatre siege in 2002, makes contact with gunmen. They refuse offers to deliver food and water, but say the children are fine. Gunmen sever telephone contact at 3 a.m. (2300 GMT).

* U.S. President Bush condemns those responsible and tells Putin: “We stand with the Russian people”. A White House spokesman says Washington will provide assistance if asked.

* At a special meeting requested by Moscow the U.N. Security Council condemns the gunmen “in the strongest terms” and demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

I’m sure, that since Russia is being so multilateral, that the monsters will say “oh the UN said release the hostages” and will do so. And pigs will fly.

[update] Explosions have been reported at the school. Jeff Quinton and James Joyner are also following the story. Our Russian speaker at Logic and Sanity is continuing to update from the Russian newswires. Check there for the very latest.

[update] They’ve released a few hostages but there are also reports of murders of other hostages. Thanks to Laughing Wolf for the heads up on that.