Western hostages to be freed
Chechen guerrillas holding up to 700 hostages in a Moscow theatre have reportedly offered to release several Westerners.
Three British tourists are among the foreigners being held by the 40 Muslim gunmen.
News of the apparent deal was released by the Austrian envoy to the Russian capital.
Earlier, a loud explosion was heard outside the theatre, but it is not known what caused the blast.
The group had threatened to blow up the building if police tried to storm it.
The gunmen released up to 20 children immediately from among the audience as well as some Muslims.
Police said between 400 and 700 people remained hostage while 150 had been released.
Some hostages who were freed said the group burst into the theatre firing shots into the ceiling and shouting: "Stop the war in Chechnya."
One hostage, from her mobile telephone inside the theatre, said the rebels had fastened explosives in passageways and on seats.
Some of the hostages had been rigged up to explosives, she said.
"A huge amount of explosives have been laid through the place," she added.
A Chechen news website carried what it said was a statement by the attackers' commander, Movsar Barayev.
It read: "No one will get out of here alive - they'll die with us if there's any attempt to storm the building."
He called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to pull his troops out of Chechnya if he wanted to save the hostages' lives.
