Moscow, Sep 3 (DPA) Russians Sunday commemorated the bloody end to the Beslan hostage tragedy two years ago in which 333 people died - a "painful wound," in the words of President Vladimir Putin.
"The murder of innocent women and children shook Russia and the entire world," he said during a Moscow meeting with Russian Orthodox Church head Patriarch Alexei II.
The suffering of the parents would linger and the whole tragic event was "our common pain," Putin said.
Hundreds of people poured into the ruins of the school in the small northern Caucasus town, where Chechen terrorists held more than 1,100 adults and children captive for two days.
Two siege ended in a dramatic firefight between the terrorists and security forces, in which 333 hostages and police died. All but one of the group of over 30 hostage-takers were killed in the fighting.
A minute of silence was held in North Ossetia, where Beslan is situated, at 1.05 p.m. (0905 GMT), the time of the first explosion at the school. Then 333 white balloons were released from the town of Beslan to represent the number of lives lost in the attack, including 186 children.
"The callous attack on children shows that terrorism is not holy and that it has neither religion nor homeland," the president of the Russian Parliament, Boris Gryslow, said in Moscow.
The memorial in the north Caucasus was marked by a strong police presence.
Religious ceremonies and commemorative events took place throughout the Russian capital as well. Thirteen people were detained at a banned rally of human rights activists attempting to bring attention to mistakes made by officials in the attacks.
Shortly before the anniversary, Russian media quoted a member of the investigating state commission as saying the commando assault and ensuing shootout was triggered by the use by security forces of heavy weapons, including flame-throwers and rockets.