ANKARA, Sept 2 (AFP) - Turkey said Thursday a hostage-taking in a Russian school in the volatile Caucasus region was an "unacceptable act of terrorism", after Russian President Vladimir Putin postponed a planned trip to the country.
"We forcefully condemn this form of terrorist action, which can in no way be justified and which harms the life of innocent people and even children," said a written statement issued by the foreign ministry.
"This is an unacceptable act," it said.
Terrorism is the "biggest threat against peace and security" in the world, the ministry said, adding that it supported a condemnation by the UN Security Council of the hostage-taking in southern Russia.
The statement, adopted by all 15 Council members after lengthy discussions, did not link the hostage-takers to any group.
Twelve civilians have lost their lives as a result of the seizure Wednesday of hundreds of people at a school in the southern Russian republic of North Ossetia, according to authorities, cited by Russia`s ITAR-TASS news agency.
Authorities announced Wednesday that one of the hostage-takers had also been killed.
Putin on Thursday postponed his planned two-day visit to Turkey. In an official statement, the Kremlin said the Turkish government had accepted the decision, with "complete understanding".
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov who were to have accompanied Putin also cancelled their visits.
Putin was instead to hold telephone talks on Thursday with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Necdet Sezer.