Moscow Siege May Have Wider Terror Link

The siege in a Moscow theatre took a further dramatic turn on Thursday when the Arab Al Jazeera television network broadcast video tapes of people it claimed were involved in the hostage-taking drama in the Russian capital.

The broadcast showed them in front of banners in Arabic referring to Moscow and saying "God is great" as they proclaimed willingness to die. The Al Jazeera station has frequently been used by the al-Qaeda network to make statements about its activities.

The broadcast appeared to support a claim on Thursday by Vladimir Putin, Russian president, that the Chechens behind the siege were linked to international terrorism. As details emerged of the first casualties among the 700 captives, Mr Putin spoke on television from his Kremlin office about "a monstrous manifestation of terrorism" and said it had been planned by "foreign terrorist centres".

Jack Straw, UK foreign secretary, said on Thursday night that British counter-terrorism experts were being sent to advise Sir Rod Lyne, British ambassador, on dealing with the hostage crisis. No request for assistance had come from the Russian authorities.

Mr Putin, whose political ascent was closely linked to his decision to launch military action in Chechnya three years ago, cancelled trips to Germany, Portugal and Mexico so he could take charge of the situation.

Officials confirmed during the evening that a body removed from the theatre was that of a woman killed on Wednesday evening trying to escape after the siege began, when between 40 and 50 masked men and women stormed the building.

They said that about 700 hostages were still being held, while 37 had been released or had escaped. A further two escaped during the afternoon, triggering gunfire from inside the theatre which left one member of the Alfa anti-terrorist squad wounded.

A handful of foreigners were among those released on Thursday, but the authorities said that 75 non-Russians remained in the theatre, including 18 from western countries. Diplomatic representatives of the UK, US, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands, were at the scene attempting to negotiate their freedom.

A series of attempts at negotiations took place during the day by different Russian political figures, notably Josef Kobzon, a popular Russian singer, businessman and member of parliament, which led to the release of additional hostages. A government official said professional negotiators were now in charge of the talks.

The kidnappers have threatened to blow up the 700 hostages unless federal troops are withdrawn from the Republic of Chechnya.