Hostages without food, water as Russian standoff continues

BESLAN, Russia—Officials pushed Friday to get food and water to children and adult hostages that may number more than 1,000 held in a school here for a third day by militants said to be demanding the pullout of Russian troops from Chechnya.

Distraught family members kept up a round-the-clock vigil outside School No. 1 while women, among a group of 26 hostages freed Thursday, gave Russian newspapers harrowing accounts of conditions inside the building.