A total of 27 hostage-takers were killed in Friday's storming by Russian forces aimed to save peopleheld in a southern Russian school, Interfax quoted a crisis centerofficial as saying.

    An official from the headquarters for release of hostages said that eight militants were killed in the school where the hostages have held hundreds of hostages and the rest were killed in nearby areas.

    The source confirmed that the operation to eliminate the hostage-takers remaining in the school has concluded but searchingefforts are still underway.

    The source confirmed that there were loses of staff from the Russian special forces, law enforcement agencies and the EmergencySituation Ministry that took part in the hostage-rescuing operation.