New evidence in Kulayev case

The Supreme Court of North Ossetia continued interrogation of victims as part of the Kulayev case in Vladikavkaz today.

Only one victim, Victoria Kastuyev, came to the trial today. Last year, on 1 September, she had brought her daughter to a first form. The former Beslan hostage claims that a tank fired at the building seized by the terrorists.

"After two explosions, the terrorists transferred me and many other hostages from the gymnasium to the school dining hall. I was one of those hostages who stood in the windows. A tank fired at one of the windows in which we were standing at about 4.00 pm," Ms Kastuyev said.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Prosecutor General Nikolai Shepel had claimed earlier that heavy weapons in the rescue operation had been used only when all the hostages had been removed from the school.

"Major General Andreyev, chief of the operations headquarters, at 1.10 pm ordered the Special Centre to rescue the hostages. That was not an onslaught, that was dictated by the circumstances, a rescue operation was conducted. No heavy weapons, flame throwers, or tanks were used and they could not set the school gymnasium on fire," said the deputy prosecutor general.

Ms Kastuyev also said that the terrorists had not wanted to see doctor Leonid Roshal, as was maintained previously, but Internal Affairs Minister Vladimir Rushailo.

• Prosecution disproves victims' assumptions