Moscow: Talks resumed on October 25 with Chechen rebels threatening to execute some of the more than 700 hostages they are holding in a Moscow theatre, with reporter Anna Politkovskaya and State Duma deputy Aslambek Aslakhanov returning to the theatre, Interfax news agency quoted a Kremlin official as saying.

Two Red Cross officials were also part of the delegation acting as intermediaries in talks with the rebels, a spokesman for the Kremlin's chief advisor on Chechnya, Sergei Yastrzhembsky, said.

Earlier talks wound up after three hours with an agreement on the supply of food and water to the hostages.