Authorities say 61 militants were killed in the fighting that erupted after the militants launched a large-scale assault yesterday on police and government buildings in Nalchik.
At least 12 members of the security forces and 12 civilians were reported to have been killed, and at least 70 other people injured.
Seventeen militants are reported to have been detained by security forces. Chechen rebels claimed responsibility for the assault. Akhmad Zakaev, deputy prime minister of the Chechen separatist government, told RFE/RL that the attack was carried out by an armed group connected to the separatist leadership.
(RFE/RL Russian Service/AP/AFP/ITAR-TASS)
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