MAASTRICHT, the Netherlands, Sept. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot condemned strongly the hostage taking incident in southern Russia here on Friday and deplored armed resolution of the issue.

    The top diplomat of the Netherlands, which is holding the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU), told reporters at the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers that this is a "terrible tragedy" because so many innocent people were killed or wounded in it.

    "The EU ministers of foreign affairs are following with great concern the developments surrounding the hostage taking at the school in northern Ossetia," he said in statement issued at the meeting.

    Meanwhile, he said that the EU will monitor and follow closely the developments and expresses his sincere condolences to familiesof victims, to the Russian government and the Russian people.

    He underlined that the EU "fully and unconditionally" condemns all forms of terrorism and supports the Russian government to finda solution.

    Over 310 people, mostly children, were reportedly wounded Friday when Russian special forces stormed the school in southern Russia to end the three-day long hostage crisis. The Interfax newsagency said dozens of people were killed in the storming. Enditem