Ukraine and Russia have agreed that strengthening anti-terrorism efforts in the Commonwealth of Independent States will be the major topic at the upcoming CIS summit, which is scheduled to be held in the Kazakh capital, Astana next week.

In a phone conversation with Russian President, Vladimir Putin, Ukraine President, Leonid Kuchma, strongly denounced the hostage-taking crisis in a school in southern Russia and offered his condolences to the victims.

He also suggested that 300 of those injured could be taken for treatment and recuperation at a Ukrainian international children's center.

The death toll amongst the hostages currently stands at 338.

Source: CRIENGLISH.com