Russian troops storm Moscow theater

Russian officials say they're in control

Tanks surround the area near the Moscow theater.

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VIDEO CNN's Mike Hanna says one hostage was killed and several have escaped (October 24) PLAY VIDEO RELATED Gallery: Images from Moscow theatre siege  • Eyewitness: Conditions inside theatre worsen  • On the scene: Rebels seek international spotlight  • Analysis: Putin faces sternest test  • Interactive: Russia's Forgotten War  Special report: Moscow hostage standoff  QUICKVOTE What is the most effective way of dealing with the Moscow hostage-takers: Force Diplomacy VIEW RESULTS FACT BOX DEMANDS: Amed hostage-takers want President Vladimir Putin to immediately withdraw Russian troops from Chechnya and end the war there.

MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- Security forces early Saturday stormed a theater where Chechen rebels were holding some 700 hostages and regained control of the building, Russian officials said.

A senior police official said some of the Chechen hostage-takers may have escaped.

At least 20 bodies were removed from the theater, according to Russian officials. It was not clear whether the casualties were hostages or rebels, though officials confirmed Movsar Barayev, the ringleader of the Chechen terrorist group was killed, officials said.

Russia's deputy interior minister, Vladimir Vasilev, said Russian special forces sustained some injuries after storming the building, but not seriously.

Eyewitnesses said at least some of the hostage-takers, as well as dozens of hostages, were leaving the building. Buses were brought into the area to take away the rescued hostages.

The dramatic end to the three-day standoff came just before a dawn deadline set by the rebels, who threatened to begin killing the remaining hostages. As troops moved in, loud explosions and heavy gunfire could be heard.

A Russian official said the rebels started shooting their hostages. After two hostages were killed and two were wounded several hostages attempted to escape and came under fire from the rebels.

At this point, the Russian official said, special forces troops opened fire to aid the escaping hostages and that prompted troops to launch a full-scale operation.

Russian troops and security forces were seen running, armored personnel carriers and trucks began moving in the streets around the theater, according to observers on the scene.

The activity which included series of explosions of different sizes followed an earlier single blast. The automatic fire went on for a period of about 15 minutes before dying down. Later a large number of ambulances were seen leaving the scene.

The 40 rebels had threatened to begin killing their captives in the coming hours if the Russian government did not meet their demand to end the war in Chechnya. They had also said they would execute hostages if any attempt was made to storm the building.

About an hour before the initial blast, two hostages were brought out of the building on stretchers. There was no word on their condition or what happened to them.

Chechen rebels freed four hostages Friday. A Russian security spokesman said the three women and one man were Azerbaijani citizens.

Hostages who managed to escape told authorities there was a huge bomb in the center of the hall and that all the entrances to the building had been mined.

Heavily armed Russian security forces had had the complex surrounded since shortly after the siege began Wednesday night.

The rebels included 30 men and 10 women, all of them armed with machine guns and some with explosives strapped to their bodies. They said they are prepared to die for their cause, taking with them as many "sinners" as possible.

During the siege, several influential officials, including a former Russian prime minister, entered the theater complex for talks with the hostage-takers.

A Russian spokesman said Friday that the Chechen rebels would be allowed to leave freely if they released the hostages unharmed.

Earlier Friday, the captors released eight children, between the ages of 6 and 12, and seven Russian citizens before ending talks with Red Cross representatives.

The Chechens had indicated they would release the estimated 75 non-Russians, who represent 14 countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Australia, Britain and the United States, but that deal broke down later in the day, according to Red Cross officials.

The rebels did agree to allow Russian officials to bring food and water to the hostages, and doctors were allowed to examine them. However, the hostages hadn't had a full meal since the ordeal began.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had said the hostage situation was "formulated abroad" by "the same criminals who have terrorized Chechnya for many years," according to Russia's Interfax news agency.

The audience was there to see "Nord Ost," a popular production of a classic Russian musical, when suddenly the rebels stormed the building during the second act.

Russian forces withdrew from Chechnya after a 1994-96 war but they returned in 1999 and have since occupied most Chechen territory. Moscow blames Chechen militants, who say they are fighting for independence, for a series of bombings in Russia that killed more than 300 people.

A televised message that aired Thursday on Al-Jazeera TV showed a veiled woman, standing with several others, who espoused the Chechen viewpoint.

"This approach is for the freedom of the Chechen people, and there is no difference in where we die. And therefore, we have decided to die here, in Moscow. And we will take with us the lives of hundreds of sinners," she said.

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