Moscow: The school in the Southern Russian city of Beslan where over 330 people, mostly children, had died as a result of the hostage crisis would be turned into a memorial.

"The building would be turned into a memorial and a new school will be shortly built at a different site," North Ossetian Government spokesman Lev Dzugayev told Rossia TV channel.

After clearing of mines and booby traps planted by the terrorists, the devastated school building was opened today (Sep 5, 2004) for the relatives to pay homage to their loved ones, who died there in the three-day long siege.

Russian TV channels showed many parents and relatives of the hostages placing flowers and open plastic water bottles on what used to be floor the school gym, where 1184 children and adults were kept in hot and stuffy atmosphere without water, forcing many to drink their own urine to quench their thirst.

In all, 32 militants were involved in the school siege. The authorities have found 30 bodies of the militants and search for the remaining two is on, Rossia channel reported quoting investigation sources.

"Many of the militants were under the influence of narcotics, which explains their unprecedentally brutal behaviour," the channel said.