CNN IS REPORTING that Russian forces are in control of the theater and Chechen leader Barayev is dead. (But he’s been reported dead before more than once — and note the Wahhabi connection.) That’s all at the moment — reports are still rather fragmentary and confused.

UPDATE: Here’s what Reuters has, but it’s pretty skimpy. CNN says approximately 20 dead, but it’s not clear how many are hostages and how many are terrorists.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Here’s a longer story from UPI. And here’s the AP story.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Here’s the latest on what appears to have been a fairly successful antiterrorist rescue mission. And Bill Quick has some thoughts.