Intense fighting in Russian Caucasus, more security forces killed

Feb 17, 2012, 8:46 GMT

Moscow - Intense fighting between security forces and suspected insurgents in Russia's Caucasus region has left at least 13 soldiers or police dead, Interfax news agency reported Friday.

Alleged rebels defending forested terrain in the vicinity of the border between Russia's Dagestan region and Chechnya, some 950 kilometres south of the capital Moscow, were 'resisting fiercely', a police spokesman told the news agency.

A military spokesman said government forces believed they were facing 'at least three armed groups.' Heavy snow was hampering the movement of both sides, he said.

News reports placed Russian casualties at five men killed and six injured on Thursday, and two killed and one injured on Friday. Almost all were members of elite special forces units, Interfax reported.

An estimated 17 police or military personnel have suffered injuries in the fighting, which began on Monday with a suspected insurgent ambush of a government patrol. Russian army units moved to encircle the area on Tuesday and began sweeps on Wednesday, which touched off sustained fighting.

Kremlin forces and anti-government insurgents have fought for control in Russia's Caucasus region for more than two decades. Bombings, ambushes and house raids are an almost daily event in the region, but full-scale combat lasting several days is rare.

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