| Submit your comments on this article |
| Caucasus |
| Russians battle large force of Chechens |
| 2004-06-24 |
| Chechen policemen have clashed with a group of up to 50 rebels, a source in the staff of the Combined Federal Forces in the North Caucasus told RIA Novosti on Wednesday. Interfax says the local authorities have confirmed by telephone reports that eight rebels and three members of the Chechen presidential security services have been killed in the clashes. Residents of the village of Avtury said they witnessed the rebel gunmen leaving their village carrying the bodies of eight of their comrades, Interfax reports. The news agency also quoted the local authorities as saying that three members of the republicâs presidential security force were killed while resisting the rebel gunmen. The source in the military headquarters for the North Caucasus said the gunfight erupted at about 2300 Moscow time on Tuesday night near Avtury in Shalinskiy District. âA group of up to 20 people attacked policemen from the Khakassian Interior Ministry manning checkpoint No 116. Chechen policemen and officers from the Chechen presidentâs security service arrived at the scene to help the Khakassian policemen,â the source said. They then located another group of some 30 rebels and engaged in a clash with them. Reinforcements from special-purpose police units (80 men) and 100 officers from the Chechen Interior Ministryâs traffic and checkpoint police have been dispatched to the scene.â The source added that Russian Defence Ministry helicopters were involved in the engagement. The operation to destroy the rebel gunmen was continued after dawn. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |