Much remained unclear about the assault itself and, especially, about what had happened within the theater early on the morning of October 26. According to the October 26 issue of the website Newsru.com, at 3:30 AM, an explosion took place inside the building, followed by... MORE

On October 27, Ekho Moskvy radio broadcast the moving tape of a conversation that had taken place between a hostage using a cellphone, Anna Andrianova, and a friend located outside the building, A. Stepanenko, at 5:30 a.m., on October 26, at apparently the very moment... MORE

Following the assault on the theater, President Putin made a televised address to the nation in which he commenced by saying: "Dear compatriots! During these days, we have together endured a terrible trial. All of our thoughts have concerned those people who found themselves in... MORE

On October 26, the website APN.ru wrote that it was not Putin but rather a high-ranking FSB official who took the actual decision to launch the assault on the theater: "The deputy minister of internal affairs of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Vasil'ev," the website revealed,... MORE

President George W. Bush, in company a host of foreign leaders, offered firm support to Vladimir Putin during the hostage crisis. On October 25, Bush telephoned Putin and offered unspecified help in freeing the hostages. On that same day, representatives of the U.S. special services... MORE

On October 24, the second day of the hostage crisis, the polling organization ROMIR asked Moscow residents the question: "How can one save the hostages?" The responses: (1) "Convince the terrorists to surrender" ... 64.5 percent; (2) "Take the building by storm" ... 16.4 percent;... MORE

: * "The Lost War" dialog* Census-taking in Chechnya completed* Federal and republic representatives meet* Is public opinion turning?* Chechen conference held in Moscow* Perspective: Anna Politkovskaya visits Pankisi Gorge NEWS

On October 16, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell published an essay entitled "Russia and the U.S. Are Not Competing for Spheres of Influence" in one of the leading Russian dailies, Nezavisimaya Gazeta. Some of Powell's comments touched upon the conflict in Chechnya and on... MORE

The October 13 issue of the German newspaper Die Welt am Sontag published an article entitled "The Lost War" ("Der verlorene Krieg"), based on confidential papers leaked from the German Chancellor's office, which attracted considerable attention in Russia. Two newspapers, Nezavisimaya Gazeta (October 14) and... MORE

The October 16 issue of the online daily Gazeta.ru carried a report by journalist Elena Vrantseva entitled, "The State Duma Is Beginning a War in Chechnya." On that day, Vrantseva wrote, the Duma adopted amendments to a draft law entitled "Concerning Veterans," in which "it... MORE