Moscow: Heavily armed Chechen suicide bombers today (Sep 1, 2004) stormed a school in Southern Russia and took more than 400 people, including 200 children, hostage, demanding the withdrawal of federal forces from the strife-torn Republic of Chechnya and release of arrested colleagues from jails.

At least two people were killed and nine injured after the militants, both men and women numbering upto 20 and clad in black "fidayeen" (suicide) garbs, poured into the high school compound in Caucasian town of Beslan in the Republic of North Osetia at 9 am (local time), shortly after the ceremony of the beginning of new school year, and took parents, pupils and teachers hostage, Itar-tass news agency reported.

At least one of the attackers was also killed in the shootout with the police, the State-run Rossia channel reported.

A schoolboy, who managed to escape with about 50 other pupils, told NTV network that all the hostages have been locked in the indoor sports gymnasium.

The Russian media reports suggested that the militants have fortified the school building by planting landmines along it perimeter and marksmen are positioned on the roof of the school.

The militants, who have threatened to blow the school along with hostages in case of storming by the security forces, have placed small children before the windows.

North Ossetia, the Russian Caucasus' only Christian province borders on Chechnya.