Commissioner criticises Beslan school security

Mr Alexander Torshin, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council and head of the federal parliamentary commission for an investigation into the Beslan terrorist act, notes that security in the captured school in Beslan was rather poor.

"Five people were to guard the school according to one scheme and four according to another. Two people came, but even so one of them was loafing about somewhere. Later, he gave evidence that he shot two clips and ran for help. He's probably fibbing. Or he can't shoot. As a result, it turned out that one policewoman guarded the school who came there unarmed and was taken hostage," Mr Torshin said in an interview with Rossiiskaia Gazeta to be published on Wednesday.

Speaking about the use of flame-throwers, he suggested lifting this concern once and for all. "Commission members first came to Beslan on 21 September. We documented six flame-thrower containers as soon as on 22 September. I have a copy of that statement. Anyone may say whatever they want, although I am not happy about this superiority. And we at once raised the question so that we will not conceal that," Mr Torshin remarked.

The Beslan commission's report currently amounts to 280 pages, according to him. He indicated that all meetings of the commission were videotaped. "Next generations will inherit a lot of interesting stuff such as who gave what kind of evidence. A total of some 80 public officials have given evidence to us and some of them have been questioned twice," Mr Torshin said.

• Victims resentful of incompliance