Youths Arrested In Killing Of Kyrgyz Vendors In Russia

ZAKAMENSK, Russia -- Police in the Russian republic of Buryatia today announced the arrest of three suspects in the killing of seven shuttle traders, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.

The Investigative Committee in the Prosecutor-General's Office said one suspect has already confessed to taking part in the crime. The three suspects are reported to be high-school students.

The seven traders were found shot dead near Zakamensk on February 2. They had been missing for three days.

The traders reportedly had a large sum of money with them when they left the town of Zakamensk for the city of Irkutsk to buy goods.

The two men and one of the five women killed were ethnic Kyrgyz who also had Russian passports.