North Ossetian President Alexander Dzasokhov said he would resign soon. He made this statement at a public rally in the North Ossetian capital of Vladikavkaz on Wednesday. “I will resign soon, very soon,” Mr. Dzasokhov said, according to Echo of Moscow radio.

However, in an interview with NTV channel, Mr. Dzasokhov was more evasive. Asked if he was considering resignation, he said: “I must solve the tasks that are urgent for the republic.” The President stressed that, despite calls for his resignation at the demonstration in Vladikavkaz, he “must take into account the opinions of those people who did not take part in the demonstration”.

The anti-government demonstration in Vladikavkaz lasted for two days. Most of the protestors were the relatives of those killed in the Beslan school siege. Their main demand was the resignation of the republic’s security officials and the President.

More than 3,000 people took to the streets. “Resign, resign!” they shouted, forcing Mr. Dzasokhov to announce that the North Ossetian government would be sacked over the next two days.

The people of the republic gave an ultimatum to their President: if he does not resign until Tuesday, they will go to the streets to protest. The ultimatum expired on Tuesday, but Mr. Dzasokhov did not resign.

“A decree to dismiss the government will be issued within the next two days,” North Ossetia’s leader said. He also said that a government commission would arrive in the republic on September 11 to investigate the Beslan tragedy.

North Ossetian Interior Minister Kazbek Dzhantiyev tendered his resignation immediately after the tragic events in Beslan, but his resignation was not accepted.