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Renewed violence claims lives in Ingushetia
Jul 2, 2009, 11:01 GMT
Moscow - At least two Islamist militants were killed in clashes with security forces in the Russian republic of Ingushetia on Thursday, the Interfax news agency reported.
The firefight, in which two police officers were reported injured, occurred near the region's capital of Nazran. According to Interfax the rebel forces opened fire on the police, who returned fire killing the two militants.
Violence between Islamist rebels and Kremlin troops has flared recently in the North Caucasus region, both in Ingushetia and neighbouring Dagestan.
In Dagestan, one police officer was killed when gunmen opened fire on a police post near the Georgian border, and on Sunday five people were killed in similar clashes. An assassination attempt against Ingushetia's Moscow-loyal president, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov on June 22 has prompted a crackdown by the Russian military.
Tensions have been rising in mostly-Muslim region, as Islamist rebels have become more bold in fighting local powers. In Ingushetia alone, attacks have claimed the lives of a former vice premier and the deputy chairwoman of the supreme court since the start of June.
On Monday around 8,500 soldiers and 650 tanks were deployed on anti-terrorism exercises in the North Caucasus region.
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