Four militants killed in Russia's North Caucasus

Four militants killed in Russia's North Caucasus

2011-04-19 01:01:23 GMT+7 (ICT)

DAGESTAN, RUSSIA -- Russian security forces on Monday killed four suspected Islamist militants in Dagestan, in the troubled Russia's North Caucasus, Itar-Tass news agency reported.

On early Monday, two vehicles were ordered to stop for a security check on the Tashkapur-Khadzhalmakhi road. The individuals inside the cars opened fire on law enforcement agents of Levashinsky region.

The security forces returned fire and the four gunmen were killed in site. One of the suspected militants was identified as Debent gang leader Israpil Velidzhanov. The other suspects are currently unidentified. No policemen were hurt or killed.

Islamist militants in Dagestan region have been fighting Russian security forces for years, looking to establish an independent state in the North Caucasus. Around 50 percent of all terrorist-related violence in Russia last year happened in the mainly-Muslim region.

Chechen Islamist rebel leader Dokka Umarov claimed responsibility for ordering the suicide bombing that killed 37 people and injured approximately 200 more at Moscow's Domodedovo airport.

Umarov ordered the Moscow attack in pursuit of an independent Muslim state in the North Caucasus region in southern Russia. In April 2009, Russia ended its ten-year-long anti terrorism campaign against separatist forces in Chechnya.

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