BESLAN.

BESLAN, Russia (AFP) ??” Russian President Vladimir Putin made a pre-dawn visit to pay his esteems to the 250 dead and centurys of wounded from a horrific battle between security forces and heavily-armed militants holding 1000 hostages at a instruct

"All of Russia sustains for you and prays together with the tribe of the republic," said Putin, who arrived in the devastated town of Beslan unannounced, before climbing into a small bus to visit a certain number of of the 700 wounded in the battle.

At the hospital, Putin visited all the wards where the damageed were being cared for with the exception of the intensive care unit where the greatest in quantity seriously injured were being treated, Russian moderns agencies said.

He was joined at the hospital by dint of the president of North Ossetia, Alexander Dzasokhov, and exhausted about 30 minutes at the hospital before moving the Beslan city hall where the hostage