RUSSIA Beslan schools reopen after terrorist attack

A full day of classes is scheduled for Thursday.
BESLAN, Russia (AP) -- Children returned to schools in this grief-stricken southern Russian town today for the first time since heavily armed militants seized more than 1,200 hostages at a school two weeks ago in a raid that shocked Russia and the world. At least 330 people were killed.
Pupils and teachers began the school day with a minute of silence, and officials said the town's seven schools would have a shortened day of classes.
Footage on Russian television showed children dressed up in suits and bows being met at schools by school officials, along with armed law enforcement officers dressed in camouflage. A full schedule of classes was scheduled for Thursday, but teachers said many parents were keeping pupils away.
Children from the nearly destroyed School No. 1 -- where hundreds of terrified children and adults were held for nearly three days by heavily armed militants -- have been granted stays, along with their families, at sanitariums in the Black Sea resort of Sochi and other locations.
Effects on children
"I was scared during the terrorist act at School No. 1," said Kaitar Koloyev, a fourth-grade pupil from one of Beslan's other schools. "My friends were scared too, but I tried to calm them, asking them to not be afraid and telling them that everything will be all right."
Classes had been scheduled to start in Beslan on Tuesday, but authorities decided to put off the opening so that military and police could continue searching schools for weapons or explosives.
"We have mixed feelings. We are afraid, but it's necessary to start school and we hope that things will turn for the better," said parent Mila Kiyanova.
"Our little Beslan is a very friendly town. We all know each other and in no way will terrorism break us," said Lyubov Vaniyeva, a teacher at School No. 6.