Many casualties reported in heavy Russian Caucasus fighting

Feb 17, 2012, 14:14 GMT

Moscow - Gun battles between security forces and suspected insurgents in Russia's Caucasus have killed and wounded dozens of combatants, in some of the most intense fighting in the region in years, the Interfax news agency reported on Friday.

At least 13 government troops were killed during three-day clashes with alleged rebels near the border between Russia's Dagestan region and Chechnya, about 950 kilometres south of the capital Moscow.

Razman Kadyrov, Chechnya's president, said seven 'terrorists' had been killed in the fighting, which took place in heavily forested mountains.

Russian forces used artillery, helicopter strikes and infantry weapons. Combat units drawn from Russia, Chechnya and Dagestan participated in the attacks on suspected rebel positions, Kadyrov said, according to Interfax.

A military spokesman said some possible insurgents who survived the gun battles were attempting to flee. Heavy snow was hampering the movement of both sides.

An estimated 17 police or military personnel were injured in the fighting.

On Monday, suspected insurgents ambushed a government patrol. Russian Army units encircled the area on Tuesday, and began attacks on Wednesday.

'Our men knew they were going into battle, they knew that they might be wounded, that they could be killed, but for the sake of the Motherland and their people they went into the fight,' Kadyrov said.

'This is a major achievement by our young men, they have utterly destroyed one of the most cruel and bandit groups (in the Caucasus).'

The Russian government intends to develop the region for summer and winter tourism and the elimination of all 'terrorist' groups operating in the region is the first step, Kadyrov said.

Also on Friday, police raided a house in which four suspected insurgents were believed to be staying, in Nartkal village in the Caucasus territory of Karbardino-Baklaria, 200 kilometres west of Chechnya.

Three alleged rebels died and one soldier was wounded in a 12-hour gun battle. The house was destroyed and police were searching for the fourth suspected insurgent, television reports said.

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 hours or days is rare.

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