BESLAN, Russia, 3 September 2004 — Heavily armed militants released 31 children and women yesterday from the provincial Russian school where they are holding more than 350 hostages for the second straight day.

An official at the headquarters for the rescue operation reported that 26 children and women were released in one group, and that another group included three women and two children.

Reuters Television producer Olga Petrova witnessed the release of infants and women, driven off in a car along with the former leader of neighboring Ingushetia, Ruslan Aushev, who mediated with the hostage-takers.

“It’s all over, you’re okay,” a burly soldier in fatigues, automatic gun slung over his shoulder, whispered as he carried a wailing child of about three months past an armored vehicle.

He took a seat in Aushev’s car. Two other small children were also placed inside, one of them naked and crying.

One of the women fell into the arms of relatives and friends and said only the smallest of the children held had been released.

The attackers, some strapped with explosives, have demanded the release of rebel fighters captured in neighboring Ingushetia in June.

Lev Dzugayev, an aide to the president of the North Ossetia region, called the releases “the first success” and expressed hope for further progress. He said the releases came after mediation by Aushev, a veteran of the Soviet Union’s Afghan war who is a respected figure in Russia’s troubled North Caucasus region.

The releases came amid heightened tension after two powerful explosions roared out in the afternoon, followed by a plume of black smoke rising from the vicinity of the school. The rescue operation’s headquarters said militants in the school fired grenade launchers at two cars that had apparently driven too close to the building. Relatives maintained a vigil near the school, pleading with authorities to keep security forces from storming the building. “It is not possible to storm the building. They will blow up the children,” said Luda, her son among those held.

In the early evening, a series of heavy thuds that sounded like artillery could be heard, apparently coming from an area northwest of the town. The sound persisted for about 15 minutes.

The mood of the residents swung from anxiety to anger against the authorities for bringing calamity on them. “These children are not to blame if bandits come here. It’s the authorities who are to blame. They can’t restore order or guard the borders,” said Ruslan Tivitov, 27.

Well-known pediatrician Leonid Roshal, who aided hostages during the deadly seizure of a Moscow theater by Chechens in 2002, led the nighttime talks. NTV television reported that Roshal, whose participation the militants had demanded, conveyed to the hostage-takers the promise of a safe corridor out, but the offer was refused.

The school in Beslan, a town of about 30,000, is in North Ossetia, near the republic of Chechnya where separatist rebels have been fighting Russian forces since 1999, and suspicion in the raid fell on Chechen militants or their supporters, although no claim of responsibility has been made.

Earlier, President Vladimir Putin said while meeting King Abdallah of Jordan at the Kremlin: “Our main task is to save the life and health of those who have ended up as hostages. All the actions of our forces... will be devoted to solving this task.”