Beslan mourns deadly school siege

Russia is marking the fifth anniversary of the Beslan siege in which more than 330 people died after a school was seized by Chechen rebels.

The rebels, who held more than 1,000 people hostage, demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from Chechnya.

The siege ended three days later when security forces stormed the building. Those killed in the ensuing battle included 186 children.

Five years on, the people of Beslan are still haunted by what happened there.

Starting early on Tuesday morning, a steady stream of mourners laid flowers and lit candles in memory of the friends and relatives who died there.

Grieving mothers stood, sobbing, in front of the pictures of siege victims adorning the school walls - many showing the faces of young children.