February 4, 2007 -- Security forces have said they killed four suspected militants during a special operation in the southern Russian republic of Ingushetia.
The regional Interior Ministry said security forces fought for several hours on February 3 with a group of gunmen holed up in an apartment building in the town of Malgobek. One policeman was wounded in the clash.
SUBSCRIBE For weekly news and in-depth analysis on Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia's North Caucasus by e-mail, subscribe to "RFE/RL Caucasus Report."
The Interior Ministry said the gunmen were suspected of shooting at the republic's most senior Muslim cleric and his son earlier this week.
Isa Khamkhoyev, the mufti of Ingushetia was slightly wounded, his son was reportedly seriously hurt in the attack.
The siege in Malgobek is the latest in a series of similar incidents in areas surrounding Chechnya.
In Chechnya, meanwhile, four suspected militants were killed in a clash with security forces.
(Interfax, AP, Reuters)
RFE/RL Caucasus Report
RFE/RL Caucasus Report
SUBSCRIBE For weekly news and in-depth analysis on Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia's North Caucasus by e-mail, subscribe to "RFE/RL Caucasus Report."