Moscow: Declaring that international terrorism was common enemy of the whole mankind, Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 26 night asked for forgiveness for not being able to save all hostages held by Chechen rebels in a Moscow theatre for 57 hours.

"Forgive us, we were not able to save everyone," Putin said in a short televised address to the nation.

Officials said that more than 90 hostages and 50 Chechen rebels were killed when Russian crack commandoes stormed the theatre in an operation. Over 750 captives were freed safe.

Putin also thanked the global community for expressing solidarity with Russia in facing the hostage crisis. "These days we together lived through horrible test," he said.

"We are grateful to our friends in the whole world for moral and practical backing in our fight against the common enemy. This enemy is strong and dangerous, inhuman and cruel. Its name is international terrorism. As long it is not crushed, nowhere people in the world can feel themselves secure. But it must be defeated. It would be defeated," Putin said in an emotional address.

"We managed to do the almost impossible by saving the lives of hundreds and hundreds of people. We proved that Russia cannot be forced to kneel," Putin said taking pride in the valour displayed by the security forces.

PTI