Pressure Rises to Indentify Gas Used in Siege Rescue

The bodies hanging over the shoulders of firemen and rescue workers were limp and lifeless. Viewers of these images, shown across the world as the three-day siege was ended by Russian forces, showed many still wearing evening dress, clothes they had worn for a musical performance they never got to see on Wednesday.

On Saturday, the 800 hostages, held captive by Chechen rebels since Wednesday night, were freed. But as the number of lifeless bodies piled up in front of the theatre steadily increased, first relief was soon replaced by first suspicions.

By Sunday, the death toll of hostages had risen from ten to 120.

Eyewitnesses who saw the bodies, noted that few of the bodies showed no traces of blood or blast injuries.

"Forgiveness"

Speaking to the public in an emotional speech, Russian President Vladimir Putin appealed for "forgiveness" from the relatives of those who had died in the raid, saying the "near impossible" had been achieved and hundreds of people saved.

His comments came as evidence emerged that many of the hostages who had suffered in the raid may have died after Russian forces flooded the building with a powerful gas to render the rebels unconsciousness.

No details

Earlier on Saturday, Russian officials had admitted an "incapacitating" agent had been flooded into the theatre as troops stormed the building. However, they refused to name the agent.

But as around 400 hostages are still being held in hospital, many in a serious condition, after being seriously affected by fumes, the pressure on Russian authorities to reveal details on the methods used in the raid has increased.

Speaking on Saturday, Russian Deputy interior Minister Vladimir Vasiyev said none of the hostages had died from inhaling the gas.

But his statement contradicted Russian radio reports which quoted doctors as saying captives might have choked on their own vomit after inhaling the gas.

No visitors allowed

According to Russian radio "Echo Moskwi", authorities have additionally instructed doctors not to talk to the press, and families are not allowed to visit sick relatives.

Police and security officials are preventing enraged friends and relatives from pushing their way past hospital gates with force.

Many still do not know whether family members held hostage in the siege have survived.

Germans survived

Of the 75 foreign hostages, all have survived except for one, a Dutch national.

The two German hostages have already left Moscow, and are now being treated in Germany. The head of the toxicological department of Munich's University Clinic, Thomas Zilker, said in German television that his two patients were in a "stable condition" and fully conscious.

He said he could not identify the gas, but suspected Russian forces may have used a type of laughing gas.

Relief

So far, European leaders have failed to criticize the methods adopted by the Russian forces in the raid.

On Saturday, Germany Chancellor Gerhard Schröder expressed his relief that the siege was over, saying "even though the details are still not clear, we should be happy that the majority of the hostages, including the Germans, are now free".