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All action taken by the forces working on freeing the hostages in Beslan will be dictated by the need to preserve their lives and health

September 2, 2004

Meeting with the King of Jordan Abdullah II, President Vladimir Putin said that the series of terrorist attacks that has hit Russia over recent days is directed at the country as a whole, and that the prime task now is to save the hostages.

Mr Putin said the events in North Ossetia were all the more terrible as children are among those taken hostage. This attack could tear apart the already fragile inter-religious and interethnic relations in the region. The President stressed that the authorities would do everything in their power to prevent such a development of events.

The international community is shocked by the terrorists’ barbaric actions. On behalf of the Muslim world, King Abdullah II expressed his solidarity with the people of Russia.

Mr Putin thanked Abdullah II and all the other heads of state and government, the UN Security Council and everyone who has expressed their support for Russia.

September 2, 2004