MOSCOW, Sept. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- More than 200 people were killed following fightings to end a hostage-taking standoff in a southern Russian school on Friday, Interfax news agency reported quoting health officials.

    "Over 200 people were shot by hostage-takers or died of injury due to explosions set off by the militants," a source from the North Ossetian Health Ministry said.

    It is unclear how many children were among the victims.

    Itar-Tass news agency said earlier that 704 people had been hospitalized with injuries, 259 of whom are children.

    Resistance of militants on the premises of school in southern Russia has been fully put down, Itar-Tass news agency cited crisis center as saying. Enditem