US President George W. Bush on Wednesday called Russian President Vladimir Putin and condemned those behind the taking of hundreds of hostages in Russia.

"He (Bush) condemned the taking of hostages and other recent terrorist attacks in Russia," White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said.

Bush also "offered his condolences to the victims and to the Russian people. Both leaders stressed their strong commitment to working together to defeat global terrorism," Buchan said.

In Russia, a group of armed men seized a school in the town of Beslan in Russia's North Ossetia region on Wednesday morning and took hostage of some 400 people, including 200 school children.

In another terror attack, at least 10 people were killed and 51others injured Tuesday evening in a suicide bombing in Moscow between a subway station and a supermarket in rush hours.

An Islamic group calling itself the Islambouli Brigades Tuesdayclaimed responsibility for the suicide bombing, saying it carried out "this heroic operation in support of Chechen Muslims".

The United States has condemned Tuesday's suicide bombing in Moscow.

Source: Xinhua