ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Ethiopian President Girma Wolde Giorgis and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi have sent message of condolences respectively to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the tragedy at the Beslan school compound in Northern Ossetia.

    The Ethiopian News Agency reported here Saturday that Girma, inhis message of condolences, condemned what he described as "outrageous acts of terrorism" and expressed solidarity to the Russian people in "these hours of sorrow and grief."

    Meles on his part said, "It was with utter shock and sorrow that we heard of what has transpired at the Beslan school compoundin Northern Ossetia."

    "In these hours of tragedy, I would like to express to you and through you to the people of the Russian Federation and to the families of the victims our solidarity and join all of humanity incondemning these outrageous acts of terrorism," Meles said.

    On Friday evening, Russian special forces put an end to a three-day hostage-taking crisis that has claimed lives of at least 320 children and innocent adults in Beslan school.

    More than 400 hostages, held by armed militants for over 50 hours since Wednesday in a secondary school in the town of Beslan in Northern Ossetia, a republic bordering Chechnya in southern Russia, managed to escape with the help of the special forces.

    Some 704 people were reportedly injured during the standoff between hostage-takers and Russian security forces. Enditem