Russian regional leader vows not to use force to end hostage crisis

North Ossetia President Alexander Dzasokhov said Friday that there is no plan so far to use force to end a school seizure in south Russia's North Ossetia republic.

A group of armed man raided the school Wednesday morning and are holding at least 500 hostages, the president said. Some newspapers have reported the attackers may be holding as many as 1,500 people.

Hostage-takers are also demanding independence of Chechnya, Dzasokhov added.

Source: Xinhua