Posted on 09/02/2004 9:52:10 AM PDT by anonymoussierra
After a sleepless night, the panic is beginning to show among the parents and relatives waiting for news from the besieged school in Beslan.
In a nearby building, women who have spent the night crying wander red-eyed past doctors and psychologists, while the men sit clutching enormous cups of coffee.
Sudden bursts of gunfire and the occasional explosion send ripples of fear through the crowd.
The situation remains extremely tense and unpredictable, with the hostage-takers refusing to allow any food into the school, reports the BBC's Sarah Rainsford, who is at the scene.
"I think this firing is just a mind game," Rita Botsayeva told the Reuters news agency. "They are showing us they are alive and well."
Russian authorities have ruled out using force to free the hundreds of schoolchildren, parents and teachers being held hostage by suspected Chechen rebels.
They say the gunshots and blasts are all coming from the rebels, eager to demonstrate they are armed and dangerous.
'Too late for school'
Reports say life in the little town of Beslan has come to a halt, converging around the metal barriers the police are using to keep the public away from the school.
"Being together makes it easier to cope with fear," said a correspondent from a Russian TV station, NTV Mir, reporting on how relatives and friends of those being held in the school spent the night in the nearby Hall of Culture.
Angela Khugayeva, a 26-year-old woman, told Reuters, "We are all relatives. Brothers, cousins or uncles. The whole town feels this."
Those outside look back on how inconsequential events on Wednesday led to loved ones being spared - or ensnared - in the crisis.
"Can you imagine, I have a child who yesterday didn't eat anything and rushed to school, all dressed up. But my daughter was too late for school," a woman called Luda told Reuters, as she waited to hear of her son - a hostage inside the building.
While officials emerging from the police barricade are mobbed for the latest news, reports say the relatives are not talking to the soldiers and security teams poised outside the school - they are keen not to distract them.
Moscow comparisons
The people of Beslan are full of questions - why have they been targeted? By whom? They complain officials are not keeping them informed.
"No one tells us anything," a distraught relative said. "Some people say the terrorists are Chechens. Some people say they are Arabs. But we don't know."
Some of those waiting outside the school are looking back to an earlier hostage crisis in Moscow in 2002, which ended with the deaths of some 120 theatre-goers and rebels.
"We keep comparing this to the theatre siege," a lady told the BBC's Sarah Rainsford.
"But here they're not giving the hostages food. They're just not human," she said.
I do not speak english good and write good, I want that devil lucifer persons dead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your President want to help that is good, thank you America.
God bless the Russian people.
Thank you.
God Bless the hostages, the relatives, and the Russian people.
God D**n the islamofascist monsters to the hottest corner of hell.
Thank you.
"God Bless the hostages, the relatives, and the Russian people."
Thank you.
What America television do talk about that?
Hang in there, we're with you.
>>the terrorists are Chechens. Some people say they are Arabs
Jihadis - too bad they didn't dribble down their mama's thighs.
Invade Saudi, destroy the source of jihad!
Thank you.
My thoughts and prayers are with those taken hostage and the families who wait... I saw 2 babies who were released and being rushed to a squad car. My heart broke at their scared little faces but I thanked God they were safe. I pray for the same outcome for those not yet free.
Your President want to help that is good, thank you America.
---------------------------------
Hey, phony! Not long ago, you were posing as a "Polish woman"! Now you are "Russian"?
Methinks we should be detecting an ozone buildup -- preceding a ZOT!
I'm saying a lot of prayers that Russia gets her babies (and the adults) out safe an sound.
My heart aches for the parents. (I am the mother of a 6 year old boy) I can't imagine a more terrible scenario to be in.
G-d have mercy.
PS: Everyone who sees this please take the time to pray. Thank you.
that evil persons are devil, devil, that persons are terrorist, that persons are devil!!!!!!!!
I want to write what my heart beat, I can not in english, I want that evil shit toilet terrorist dead!!!!!!!!!!!
Where did she say she was Russian?
No, I am from Poland, Russia is next to Poland.
Lighten up Francis ... she never said she was Russian.
Whoa! Go easy on the ZOT trigger, she never said she's from Russia...
Pray a Rosary for these people in Russia!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.