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Russian president praises courage of hostages
MOSCOW. Nov 6 (Interfax) - The death toll in the hostage drama in Moscow two weeks ago would have been higher if the hostages themselves were less courageous, Russian President Vladimir Putin told the Nord- Ost musical troupe in the Kremlin on Tuesday. The musical Nord-Ost was being performed when terrorist seized the theater.
"The country has lived through a horrible tragedy and experienced a deep shock," he said.
"Those who had automatic weapons aimed at them experienced a much stronger shock," Putin said.
But for the courage and self-control of those held in the theater "the consequences would have been much worse," he said. Putin said that he is sincerely and deeply thankful to all those held hostage.
The security agency officials in charge of the rescue operation and the special troops who carried it out "had no hesitations about the need for it," he said.
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