Get out or get blown, rebels to Russia

‘‘If this issue is not resolved within a week, the building will be blown up with all hostages,’’ they added.

Up to 1,000 hostages seized by armed Chechen rebels were being held in the Moscow theatre for a second day today, fearful that Russian troops could launch a bloody assault.

Meanwhile, the Army positioned a tank within 400 meters of the theatre. Describing the hostage crisis as a ‘‘major’’ terrorist act in the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin today blamed international terrorist centres for the episode and cancelled foreign trips to take charge of the situation.

‘‘The initial information released by representatives of terrorists after taking hostages in Moscow came from abroad. This once again confirms that this terrorist act was planned in one of the foreign terrorist centres,’’ Putin was quoted as saying by the state TV at his meeting with FSB security Chief Nikolai Patrushev and Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov today.

Putin, who spent last night in his Kremlin office, told Patrushev and Gryzlov to take utmost precautions to ensure the safety of hostages while seeking their release.

The President also cancelled his Germany and Portugal visits scheduled for today while the fate of his visit to Mexico for APEC summit and informal talks with us President George W Bush over the weekend seemed uncertain of the crisis was not resolved by tonight.

In Copenhagen, the European Union strongly condemned a hostage-taking of hundreds of innocent civilians by Chechen separatists in a Moscow theatre and praised Russian authorities for their cautious approach in dealing with the crisis. The EU called on the hostage-takers to immediately release all people held.

In Jerusalem, Israel and the Palestinian authority both expressed solidarity with the Russian government today.

In a statement from Ariel Sharon’s office, the Israeli Prime Minister ‘‘expressed his solidarity with the problem currently facing the Russian government, adding that Israel supports the war on terror.’’

The statement said Sharon spoke yesterday with Russian ambassador Gennady Terasov.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat also issued a statement in which he and his administration ‘‘strongly condemn this terrorism against civilians’’.