The Russian prime minister, Yevgeniy Primakov, has arrived in the North Ossetian capital, Vladikavkaz, on a visit to the Caucasus.

He held talks withPresident Aleksander Dzasokhov and the president of neighbouring Ingushetia, Ruslan Aushev, on ways of ending ethnic conflict between the two republics which fought a short war in 1992.

He is also holding talks with the president of Chechnya, Aslan Maskhadov.

A spokesman for Mr Maskhadov said they would be discussing the problem of hostage-taking in the republic where more than one hundred people, including five foreigners are thought to be held.