Chief Beslan gunman described

The case of Nurpashi Kulayev charged with involvement in the attack on school No 1 in Beslan continued to be heard in Vladikavkaz. Three out of the 38 summoned victims came to interrogation today.

Svetlana Dzheriyev who had been taken hostage together with her daughter spoke first. Her 6-year-old Dana went to the first form on that day. To calm down her daughter, Svetlana told her the bombs hanging overhead were lumps of soap. Svetlana also confirmed the terrorists were shooting in the backs of running children.

Liudmila Reznov who spoke next also told about atrocities. She said one terrorist ran into the gymnasium after an explosion there and threw a grenade. Liudmila said while some gunmen were breaking windows in the gymnasium one of them explained, "Nord-Ost taught us that."

The evidence given by Atikat Koniyev who had been taken hostage together with her granddaughter was the most interesting. Atikat told the court about a terrorist called Ali. Other victims had previously mentioned a terrorist named so, and some think it was Ali who was the chief of the gang, not Ruslan Khuchbarov nicknamed Colonel.

Atikat described Ali as a very cynical man.

"He told us, 'These bombs are very good, I've made them myself. There are 1,200 metal items in each of them, one bomb is enough for all of you.' He also said, 'We will be killing federals as long as we have cartridges, and when we are out, we will blow you up.'"

Atikat recollects that the "school was like a tin stuffed with explosives." Ali even read out the Koran to them, according to her.

"I asked him why children, why haven't you seized the House of Government. He answered, 'We would take the House of Government, too, if they hadn't taken away Grozny.' He also said, 'I've shaven my beard to get here.'"

Several times Ali talked to someone by phone and demanded the president. Atikat was near at such moments and could even hear answers in the receiver.

"I will only talk to the president," Ali told someone and put down the receiver. His phone rang again in 15-20 minutes.

"President?"

"No, his aide," the reply was heard in the receiver and Ali interrupted the talk at once.

Once, when someone asked Ali for water, he replied:

"We have an aim - no food and water. It was an indulgence that we gave you water. We have rations, but I don't eat myself," Ali said.

Atikat said no one of those men whom they had taken out of the gymnasium had come back.

"Overall, it was clear from the very beginning that they will be killing us, it was no secret to anyone. Their demands were unrealisable, how could these troops be removed..."

"Do you think talks with the gunmen should have been held?" the victim's lawyer, Taimuraz Chejemov, asked Atikat.

"Of course, they should! Everything should have been done to save the children, talks held, and the president (Dzasokhov) as a man should have gone there."

In conclusion, Atikat Koniyev who had not even been wounded in the school confessed she felt guilty because she survived.

"I have since been unable to sleep, those children before my eyes," the victim said crying.

The next hearing was scheduled for 9 August.

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