Grieving Beslan marks the end of the siege

[Simon]

Grieving Beslan marks siege end

Relatives sob during the one minute silence in memory of the Beslan victims
Scenes of raw emotion marked Beslan's commemorations

The town of Beslan in southern Russia has held a final ceremony to mark the anniversary of a school siege in which 331 people, 186 of them children, died.

Bells on the site of the school marked the moment of the first of the blasts that led to the end of the siege.

Many of the relatives were overwhelmed with grief as a minute's silence was held and white balloons, one for each of the victims, were released.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an inquiry into the tragedy.

As the final ceremonies were being held, and a day after he met a delegation of bereaved mothers, Mr Putin announced he had ordered the prosecutor general to send investigators to Beslan.


Mourners in the gutted gymnasium of Beslan's School Number One

Siege still a mystery
Injustices fuel conflict

Many in Beslan believe most of the victims were killed by Russian assault forces after Mr Putin refused to talk with the gunmen.

Mr Putin told the mothers on Friday that no country could completely shield its citizens from terror.

But he said this did not justify the negligence of any officials and pledged a full investigation into the siege.

Looking for answers

Events to commemorate the massacre have taken place in Beslan over three days.

They culminated in the unveiling of a monument called "The tree of sorrow" at the local cemetery where most of the victims are buried.

More : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4210628.stm

[stratman]

Putin is only just now ordering an "inquiry" into the tragedy?

Where has he been for the last year?

[Axe victim]

Originally Posted by stratman

Putin is only just now ordering an "inquiry" into the tragedy?

Where has he been for the last year?

Vodka will do that to you!