Tens of thousands of Russians massed outside the Kremlin today in response to government calls for solidarity after a series of deadly attacks that have killed more than 400 people.
The crowd stood still for a moment of silence in memory of victims, starting the rally after a clock in a Kremlin tower above struck 5pm.
The demonstration came as relatives held a third day of funeral for victims of the hostage crisis at a school in the southern Russian town of Beslan.
Demonstrators gathered in the rain on Red Square's cobblestones outside St Basil's Cathedral brandishing banners with slogans such as Russia against terror, We won't give Russia to terrorists and The enemy will be crushed, victory will be ours.
"I have been crying for so many days and I came here to feel that we are actually together," said pensioner Vera Danilina, 57.
"We came here to show that we are not indifferent to the series of terrorist acts that have taken place," said Alexander, an 18-year-old student at a Moscow technical college.
The rally, organised by a pro-government trade union, was heavily advertised on state-controlled television, with prominent actors broadcasting appeals to citizens to turn out to say no to terror.
President Vladimir Putin has called for unity in vast, multi-ethnic Russia and sought to rally its people against enemies he says have aid from abroad
There was, however, criticism of the gathering. The Gazeta.ru Web site commented that there was "no doubt that its organisers, in the first place, will express solidarity not with the victims of terrorist acts ... but with President Vladimir Putin."
Putin vehemently denied a link between Russia's policies in Chechnya and last week's hostage-taking, which claimed more than 350 lives.
PA