MOSCOW, Sept. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- A total of 250 people have died as a result of the hostage crisis in southern Russia, the Interfax agency reported Saturday.

    "Among the dead there are children, their parents, school teachers and also members of the armed forces who took part in the liberation of the hostages," the Interfax quoted an official from local crisis unit as saying.

    More bodies may be discovered under the rubble from explosion in the school where the hostages were held, the official added.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit early Saturday to the southern Russian town of Beslan where commandos stormed a school where militants held hundreds of children hostage.

    Putin arrived at the airport in Beslan and headed by van to thelocal hospital where wounded survivors were being treated.

    Putin said the Russian security forces did not plan to use force to end a standoff with hostage-takers holding around 1,000 people in a school here, the ITAR-TASS news agency reported.

    Putin had ordered North Ossetia's borders be closed and the city of Beslan sealed off. Enditem