TEHRAN, Sept. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Iranian President Mohammad Khatami on Friday night condemned the hostage-taking of school children in southern Russia and the killing of innocent people, the official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday.

    "The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns such terrorist acts which run against religious and human principles," Khatami said in a message to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

    Khatami also extended condolences to Putin and the bereaved families.

    A group of militants took over some 1,200 people as hostages on Wednesday morning, mostly school children, in a school in North Ossetia in southern Russia, demanding the release of imprisoned fellow militia in the Republic of Ingushetia.

    On Friday afternoon, Russian special forces launched a sudden attack on the kidnappers and rescued most of the hostages.A total of 27 gunmen were killed during the attack and the following wipeout operation, three were arrested, while four were still at large.

    The latest report said about 250 hostages had died in theterrorist act and some 700 were injured.

    The hostage taking came amid a new wave of suspected terrorist attacks against Russia.

    Two Russian planes crashed almost simultaneously on Aug. 24,killing 90 people abroad. Experts found traces of explosives on theplanes.

    A female suicide bomber blew herself up in a busy central Moscow subway on Aug. 31, killing at least 10 and wounding over 50 others.

    A website statement purportedly from an Islamic group claimed responsibility for both attacks, vowing more to come to avenge the killing of Muslims in Chechnya. Enditem