Late tonight, two doctors brought a hostage out of the Moscow theatre where Chechen rebels are holding some 700 people. It is not clear if the hostage is dead or unwell.
Four more hostages were released this evening, despite the Chechens having threatened to begin shooting people if their demands were not met. Earlier in the day, eight children were released.
Members of the International Committee of the Red Cross, who had earlier negotiated with the rebels, led the children from the building. Seven other people were set free during the night.
However, a planned release of about 75 foreign nationals has been delayed by a hitch in negotiations.
The theatre building has been surrounded by elite units of the Russian security forces.
Earlier a number of journalists were briefly allowed into the building.
The heavily armed Chechens have threatened to blow up the theatre and are demanding that Russia end its military operations in their homeland.
