Death toll rises in school siege

BESLAN, Russia (Reuters) - At least seven people have died and more than 300 others are being treated for wounds after after a three-day school siege in Russia, local news agencies say.

Itar-Tass news agency quoted local police as saying about 200 wounded had been taken to hospitals in Beslan, the town in the southern province of North Ossetia, where the hostage drama took place.

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Interfax news agency said another 110 wounded had been taken to the regional capital Vladikavkaz 30 km (20 miles) away, of whom 20 children had serious injuries.

Earlier, a Reuters witness saw three dead bodies covered in white sheets lying outside the school where children and adults have been held by Chechen militants.

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"There is a constant stream of ambulances coming away from the school carrying people. Many of them look lifeless," Reuters correspondent Richard Ayton said on Friday.

He said he saw two soldiers in black fatigues standing on the roof of the school as a pall of thick black smoke rose from the area.

"The terrorists planted a lot of mines and booby-traps filled with metal bolts in the gym," Interfax news agency quoted a Defence Ministry spokesman as saying.

Interfax reported all hostages were taken out of the school's gym after Russian special forces stormed the building.

News agencies also reported, that security forces surrounded a house in Beslan, where gunmen were holed up after fleeing the scene. Military helicopters were hovering over the building, which was being shelled by tanks.

These are the key developments in the hostage crisis: NEWS: * TASS news agency says Russian special forces have full control of school after battling Chechen separatists, but witnesses continue to report loud explosions and intense gunfire around the complex * Troops blow hole in school wall for hostages to escape; Interfax news agency says all hostages taken out of the school's gym * Witnesses see children in their underwear run out from the school; they are tended to by medics and then evacuated to hospitals by ambulances and cars * TASS says up to 200 hostages wounded and some hostages dead. It gives no figure for the number of fatalities, but witnesses report three bodies lying outside the school. * Russian security forces surround and shell a house where gunmen are holed up after fleeing school, news agencies say QUOTES: "There is a constant stream of ambulances coming away from the school carrying people. Many of them look lifeless," Reuters correspondent Richard Ayton CHRONOLOGY: Wednesday * Gunmen seize the hostages at a school in the North Ossetian town of Beslan on Wednesday, first day of school term. Between seven and 16 people are killed. * Hostage-takers, numbering between 17 and 40, threaten to kill 50 children for every fighter killed. * Within hours, nearly 50 children manage to escape. Gunmen set free 15 more. * Putin breaks off his seaside holiday and returns to Moscow. * Russia sends troops to guard nuclear facilities. * Representative of Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov denies involvement by forces loyal to him. * U.N. Security Council demands release of hostages. Thursday * Captors free 26 women and children. * Putin calls off trip to Turkey.