11.   The Russian emergency situations ministry sent in tents to house refugees, and collections of blankets and warm clothing were launched across the region.

12.   The Russian emergency situations ministry warned Tuesday that it would issue no further information to the press to prevent it being used by the kidnappers as in the past.

13.   There was a snow storm and visibility was nill, Interfax news agency reported, quoting the emergency situations ministry.

14.   Thirteen Russian crewmen were missing Tuesday after their fishing trawler sank in freezing waters off Norway on Tuesday, the Russian emergency situations ministry told AFP.

15.   Seven Russian airmen imprisoned by Taliban rebels in Afghanistan since August may be released Thursday, the emergency situations ministry told AFP.

16.   Seventeen children were killed on the spot and another four died in hospital, Interfax said, quoting the emergency situations ministry.

17.   Seventeen people were believed dead following the crash of a Russian air force plane in western Russia on Tuesday, the Russian emergency situations ministry said.

18.   The aftershock that struck in the small hours of the morning was weak and caused no further damage, the emergency situations ministry said.

19.   The emergency situations ministry said radioactivity levels were normal in Moscow on Friday.

20.   The emergency situations ministry in Moscow said the plane had caught fire during its landing.