Chechen Gunmen Agree to Free Foreign Hostages

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, October 25, 2002

Chechen Gunmen Agree to Free Foreign Hostages

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Chechen gunmen, who are holding hundreds of Moscow theater-goers hostage, said Friday that they were prepared to free all 75 foreigners if representatives of their embassies arrive to receive them, a spokesman for the Federal Security Service told the press.

Embassy officials, including several ambassadors, have arrived at the scene, but until now, no hostage has been released.

It is learned that a hot water pipe burst inside the building and water is pouring out on the first floor.

"The terrorists said that this was a provocation and said twice during the night that a storming operation was under way but this was not the case," said spokesman Sergei Ignatchenko.

So far no understanding has been reached with the terrorists on repairing the pipe, he said, adding, "We are trying to persuade them but at the moment it is not clear whether they will let plumbers in."

Meanwhile, seven more hostages were released on early Friday, bringing the number of hostages freed to 46. A young woman was confirmed dead Thursday, becoming the first death in the hostage crisis.

Ignatchenko said the seven released were in the crisis center, receiving medical aid and being questioned by law enforcement officials.

Doctor Leonid Roshal, who visited the hostages with two cameramen from the NTV channel on early Friday, said the situation inside the theater was "basically calm," but many hostages were suffering health problems of various degrees.

"Some of them are having cold, some have problems with their heart or blood pressure, and some are in a strained condition," said the doctor.

He said the condition of the hostages did not require serious medical treatment and all sick people had been provided with medicines. The doctor carried a box of medicines with him and left the box in the theater.

At least 40 heavily armed Chechens, including masked women strapped with explosives, burst into a Moscow theater on Wednesday evening, holding some 700 audience hostage to press their demand for an end to the Chechen war.

The spokesman of the Federal Security Service said negotiation with the hostage-takers was continuing and the Chechens' demand has not changed. He admitted that the talks were proceeding in a "tense atmosphere."

He said the hostages were encouraged to contact with their relatives through mobile phones during the night, urging them to organize rallies in different parts of Moscow to demand an end to the war in Chechnya.

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