Russia unveils budget to rebuild Beslan

MOSCOW (AP) -- A top Russian finance official unveiled a $49 million budget Monday for rebuilding the scarred North Ossetian town of Beslan, where more than 330 people -- mostly children -- died in a school siege in September.
Speaking at a government meeting with President Vladimir Putin, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov said the construction of two schools, for 600 pupils each, as well as an art school and a nursery school was a "priority," the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.
Some $19.7 million will go toward building a hospital, while three new apartment blocks would be built to accommodate victims of the hostage-taking as well as teachers and social workers.
Meanwhile, the head of the parliamentary commission investigating the school seizure said there was no direct evidence the rebels had connections to foreign special services, as earlier believed, the agency reported.