Russian President Vladimir Putin has postponed his planned visit to Turkey amid the hostage crisis at a school in southern Russia, the Kremlin said Thursday.

Turkey has accepted Putin's decision to postpone the visit, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, with "complete understanding," the Kremlin said.

In Ankara, a Turkish defense ministry official said Russia's defense and foreign ministers have also canceled an official trip to Turkey.

About 400 people were taken hostage after a group of armed men seized the school in North Ossetia Wednesday morning. Nine people,including eight civilians and one militant, have died in the incident.

North Ossetia is located in southern Russia, bordering the rebellious republic of Chechnya.

Source: Xinhua