The Russian President, Vladimir Putin has asked for forgiveness from the families of hostages who were killed when Russian troops stormed a theatre in Moscow early today.
In a televised address, Mr Putin said they had been unable to save everyone.
At least 90 theatre-goers died and more than 750 were freed when commandos stormed the theatre which had been seized three days ago by Chechen guerrillas.
About 50 of the rebels were killed and more than 400 survivors were hospitalised.
Mr Putin blamed the siege on international terrorism, which he called a dangerous and cruel enemy.
US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has said that the violent siege by Chechen guerrillas in Moscow demonstrated that "terrorism could strike anyway."
Mr Powell said the siege was one of the reasons why terrorism was a key topic at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
Russian deputies to boycott meeting on Chechnya A Russian parliamentarian has said that Moscow will boycott the next Council of Europe meeting on Chechnya.
The meeting which was due to take place in Strasbourg on 7 November was to be presided over by Britain's Lord Frank Judd.
Judd angered Moscow last month when he insisted that reports of Russian human rights violations in Chechnya be investigated.
Dmitri Rogozine, head of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs' Commission, denounced Lord Judd and said that Russia would also insist on a change in the composition of the current council delegation dealing with Chechnya.
