Children return to classes in Beslan

CHILDREN returned to schools in this grief-stricken southern Russian town Wednesday 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. 

Students 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. Children from School No. 1, where hundreds of terrified children and adults were held for nearly three days by heavily armed militants, have been sent on holidays or for treatment, and were not attending.