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And look at how perfectly this fits in with plans.

A mob of at least a thousand Ossetians enraged by the recent hostage drama in this south Russian republic gathered in the disputed Prigorodny region bordering the republic of Ingushetia Sunday, with plans to attack Ingush homes.

Regional police managed to disperse the crowd and prevent an interracial conflict, Gazeta.ru reported, citing a correspondent who was at the scene of the gathering.

North Ossetia, which has been part of Russia since the 18th Century, has been in conflict with neighboring Ingushetia ever since both became Soviet republics after 1917. The Ingushetians, a people related to the Chechens, are Sunni Muslims, while the majority of Ossetians, who speak a language related to Iranian, are Christians.

North Ossetian authorities reacted quickly to the massive gathering of local Ossetian residents in the Prigorodny district, which is home to many Ingushetians. Fearing violence from an angry crowd of at least 1,000 people, police were able to talk the men into going back to their homes, the Gazeta.ru correspondent said.

This was not the only public incident in the republic, plagued by the deaths of what may be over 400 adults and children after reportedly Ingush militants stormed a school in Beslan and held up to 1,200 people hostage.

In Beslan Sunday, Ekho Moskvy radio reported several demonstrations by angry Ossetians, sparked by delays in the release of death toll lists. Two Ossetians, meanwhile, are wanted for their alleged role in inciting public violence, Gazeta.ru reported, citing local police.

Earlier, Ossetian residents demanded the resignation of the republic’s president, Alexander Dzasokhov, threatening to take to the streets if he does not resign by Tuesday.

The media anticipates resignations in the Interior Ministry, in connection with last week’s hostage drama.

Police have been put on special alert for street violence.