Three militants killed by Russian security forces in volatile North Caucasus

Three militants killed by Russian security forces in volatile North Caucasus

2011-02-23 01:51:09 GMT+7 (ICT)

MOSCOW, RUSSIA (BNO NEWS) -- Three militants on Tuesday were shot dead by Russian security forces in the volatile North Caucasus during an anti-terrorism operation, RIA Novosti reported.

Nikolai Sintsov, spokesman for Russia's national anti-terrorism committee (NAC), said that police forces are currently on the area looking for at least four other militants who escaped.

The counter-terrorism operation will resume at daybreak at two areas of the North Caucasus' Kabardino-Balkaria. The raid covers all towns and villages of the Elbrus district, including the town of Tyrnyauz, nine villages and part of the Baksansky district where terrorist activities have increased.

Over the weekend, three Moscow tourists, including a woman, were killed and two others were injured during an attack by unidentified assailants in Kabardino-Balkaria. The tourists were on board of a van and were heading to Mt. Elbrus area, a famous ski resort, when attacked.

Police forces also defused three explosive devices which were found in a vehicle. The car was parked near a hotel near Mount Cheget, another ski report in the republic. On Friday, an explosion hit a cable car in Mt. Elbrus and 40 cabins crashed to the ground but no one was injured.

Last week, a suicide bomber and a second explosion in Russia's southwestern region killed at least 2 police officers and wounded another 20 people. The suicide attack took place in a police station located in the village of Gubden in the republic of Dagestan.

A female suicide bomber blew herself up just outside the station, killing one police officer and injuring several others. Moments later, a vehicle was detonated nearby as it was stopped at a Gubden checkpoint for a routine inspection.

The North Caucasus region in southern Russia has witnessed many attacks in recent times. Russia has been heavily involved in combating militant groups in the area. In April 2009, Russia ended its ten-year-long anti terrorism campaign against separatist forces in Chechnya.

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