Russia observes minute of silence, people queue to give blood

Channel One TV, Moscow
7 Sep 04

[Presenter Igor Vykhukholev] The whole world is sharing the pain and
bitterness felt by Russia over the inhuman terrorist act committed
in Beslan. Hundreds of thousands of people are bowing their heads to
observe a minute’s silence in memory of the children, their parents
and teachers, against whom the bandits took their barbaric revenge.

[Clock ticks through the minute of silence, video shows Russians around
lit candles, navy taking off their hats, women laying flowers, Russian
Muslims praying, the Russian flag at half mast over the government
building and the Kremlin]

In many places in Russia today, school started with a minute’s silence
in memory of the victims of Beslan.

Sailors of the Pacific Fleet who have returned to Vladivostok
after joint Russian-Japanese exercises remembered those killed in
Beslan. At these manoeuvres, they were developing scenarios for
fighting terrorists.

They dropped the usual festive arrival at port with the traditional
flowers and orchestra and instead the sailors took off their hats
and condolences were read out for the victims of Beslan.

[Viktor Fedorov, captioned as commander of the Pacific Fleet] This is
a most terrible tragedy. We are of course all grieving, the sailors
of the Pacific Fleet. As fathers we feel the pain. Children should
not die, that’s why we are here, the parents. It’s terrible.

[Presenter] A large group of doctors is going to Beslan today headed by
the [Russian] health minister. These are the best professors from the
leading clinics in the capital. They will examine the critical patients
and make a decision about whether they can be transported to Moscow.

As for what’s happening in Beslan, our correspondent Yevgeniy Maslov
has the details.

[Correspondent] The people of the town are holding an improvised
meeting right now in the centre of Beslan. People are arriving at the
central square in front of the house of culture. It is mainly those
who cannot find their close ones, either among the dead or among
the injured. They come carrying photographs and are proposing that
a single coordinating council be set up to gather all information
about the injured in the hospitals and they want a detailed list.

[Presenter] In Volgograd, people are rushing to help the victims. The
seriousness of the injuries means rehabilitation will take a long
time, and, as the doctors are saying, a constant supply of blood
will be needed. Long queues have formed at the city blood donor
centre. Several hundred residents of the town have given blood
today, among them people from the Ossetian, Dagestani and Armenian
communities. Tomorrow, a delegation representing the local ethnic
diasporas will set off for Beslan from Volgograd to support their
compatriots and give the money they have collected. [passage omitted]

We have just received the following footage from the Far East. Queues
have formed at the blood donor centres in Vladivostok. Students and
the town’s residents are rushing to the aid of those who suffered in
Beslan and who are now in hospital. The doctors are promising that
hospitals in the capital will have the blood by tomorrow.

Radio stations in Tajikistan are today starting each hour with “Russia,
we are with you”, and everyone is giving words of support. The day
started with a minute of silence in the schools where the children
of Russian servicemen study. And over 1,000 schoolchildren – from
the young ones to the older ones – at the school for the children of
border guards joined an antiterror rally today.

Prayers are under way in all the mosques of Tatarstan for the souls
of the hostages who were killed in Beslan. [passage omitted]

Sportsmen from the main clubs in Tatarstan have decided to offer
material assistance. All money from matches is to go to a special
support fund. [passage omitted]