
At least 200 people have been killed during the bloody climax of a three-day hostage crisis at a school in southern Russia, health ministry officials say.
Hundreds of people were injured when explosions and shooting brought the siege to a violent end. Many of the casualties were children.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived on a surprise visit to the site at Beslan, North Ossetia, reports say.
Officials said 27 hostage-takers were killed and three were arrested alive.
The BBC's Damian Grammaticas, at the scene, says three other hostage-takers are still on the run.
The armed group took over the school on Wednesday.
Russian officials have described some of the hostage-takers as mercenaries from Arab countries.
High death toll in Russia siege







