Italy, setting aside it's own grief from the murder of 2 Hostages in Iraq, and the shock of the recent announcement of the Hostage taking of  2 more in Iraq, mounted a LARGER Rally in Rome (150,000), to pay respects to Breslan victims, than took place in Moscow (130,000), AND offered "get away" recuperative vacations in Italy to victim children.

Italy was also the first country to send planes with medical equipment to Beslan after the hostage tragedy.

MosNews
Partner of The Moscow News,
and Gazeta.RU
September 7, 2004

150,000 people took part in a rally in Rome dedicated to the memory of hostages killed in the South Russian town of Beslan.

The participants held candles as they marched from Capitol Hill to the Colosseum in silence.

Italy was the first country to send planes with medical equipment to Beslan after the hostage tragedy. Mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni, sent a letter to the Russian ambassador to Italy, Yuri Meshkov, saying many Italians are ready to welcome Beslan children on vacation. On Sunday, candles were placed in the windows of thousands of homes throughout Italy to remember Beslan’s hostages.

Naples lowered its flags on Monday in memory of the Beslan victims. The church of Pietà dei Turchini held a service to commemorate the victims.

Italians Pay Last Respects to Beslan Victims - NEWS - MOSNEWS.COM
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/09/07/italy.shtml

MosNews
07.09.2004

Over 130,000 Russians gathered in a demonstration against terror in front of the St. Basil Cathedral behind Red Square on a rainy Tuesday afternoon in what appeared to be a state-sponsored rally. Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, together with other officials and public figures, spoke to the crowds, who came with banners and flags.....
130,000 Protest Terror in Official Moscow Rally - NEWS - MOSNEWS.COM
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/09/07/officialrally.shtml