Wednesday, 5.30 a.m: Armed and masked men and women burst into Beslan's School No 1 during a ceremony to mark first day back after summer holidays
8 a.m: Russian forces surround the complex and help some children who manage to flee to safety. The hostage-takers threaten to kill 50 hostages for each one of their group killed and demand the release of fighters caught in June in neighbouring Ingushetia
9.30 p.m: Russian paediatrician Leonid Roshal, requested by the hostage-takers because of his role in an earlier siege, begins negotiations. But after an hour and a half, the hostage-takers end the talks without any known progress having been made
Thursday, 9 a.m: Russian authorities say they have ruled out force to end the siege. President Putin, who broke off his holiday, says his main aim is to save the lives of hostages.
Friday, 8.49 a.m: Hostage-takers agree with former Ingush president, Ruslan Aushev, to allow vehicle approach school to collect bodies. Earlier on Thursday, Aushev had successfully negotiated the release of 26 women and children
9.05 a.m: As the vehicle approaches the school, some hostages dash for freedom. The rebels fire on them and Russian soldiers fire back. Several loud explosions are heard from within the school gym where most hostages are believed held. All hell breaks loose
9.58 a.m: Russian Special Forces enter the building. For three hours chaos reigns: rebels, troops and local people exchange fire, explosions are heard frequently; hostages flee and cars and ambulances ferry the wounded away. Some hostage-takers escape but are pursued by troops
7.40 p.m: Authorities declare operation finished. Some 150 people, most of them children, are dead and 646 wounded; 1,200 hostages were rescued and three terrorists captured