Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that the latest hostage-taking tragedy was a terrorist strike against the whole of Russia and measures will be taken to strengthen security across the country.

The tragedy which claimed the lives of at least 332 children and adults in a southern Russian school "is a challenge to the whole of Russia. To all of our people," Putin said in a televised address to the nation.

"What we face is a direct invasion of Russia by international terror. An all-out, full-scale war," he said, following Russian troops suppressed armed hostage-takers in a 10-hour gunfight on Friday night and rescued over 400 hostages.

He promised that a expanded range of measures will soon be taken to strengthen the country's unity and security, including building up "an effective anti-crisis system."

Some 30 heavily armed militants seized the shool in Russia's southern republic of North Ossetia on Wednesday, holding some 1,000 children and adults hostage for three days.

Of the 26 killed hostage-takers, who demanded independence for the breakaway republic of Chechnya, ten are Arab mercenaries.

Putin admitted that Russia showed weakness facing attacks and the nation was unable to respond as effectively as it must.

Vowing not to give in, he called on Russian citizens to unite in the face of the terrorist threat, and "only in that way will we defeat the enemy."

(Xinhua News Agency September 5, 2004)