May 14, 2012

 

Russian Army officials say that security forces have killed seven suspected insurgents in the southern Daghestan region in the past several days.

 

According to the officials, some of those killed had been identified as members of a "bandit" group operating in the region for at least two years, responsible for the ambushes of police and army patrols, extortion of local businessmen, and sabotage attacks against government infrastructure.

 

At least two soldiers and two police officers died in the initial firefights on May 10.

 

Violence between suspected Islamic militants and security forces in the North Caucasus causes hundreds of casualties each year.

 

Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and dpa