Russian officials say three policemen have been charged with criminal negligence in connection with the deaths of more than 330 hostages seized by militants at a school in Beslan at the beginning of September.
The officers charged Wednesday are from North Ossetia, where Beslan is located, and the neighboring region of Ingushetia. Officials say two other police officers face charges after they are released from the hospital.
Russian officials blame Chechen separatists for the nearly three-day hostage crisis that ended with a deadly shoot-out between security forces and the militants. Many of those killed were children.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.