MOSCOW, Sept 2 (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has postponed a planned visit to Turkey due to the hostage crisis at a school in southern Russia, officials said Thursday.
"The president is following very closely the development of the situation in North Ossetia, and directing everything from the Kremlin," a Kremlin official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
In an official statement, the Kremlin said the Turkish government had accepted the decision to postpone the visit, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, with "complete understanding".
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov who were to have accompanied Putin also cancelled their visits due to the hostage crisis, diplomats in Ankara said.
Putin was instead to hold telephone talks on Thursday with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Necdet Sezer.