Makhachkala, (Russia) Seven people were killed on Tuesday, including five militants and two policemen, in a clash in the Caucasus republic of Dagestan between backers of Chechen separatists and local security forces.
According to the interior ministry a group of eight well-armed fighters had entered Dagestan from Chechnya.
Security forces attacked their position in a mountainous region with mortar rounds and rockets fired from helicopters.
The ministry said that five of the militants died in the exchanges, while seven police officers were wounded, two of whom died from their injuries.
Operations were suspended at nightfall but were due to resume on Wednesday.
Dagestan, one of seven Russian republics in the Caucasus mountains region, is frequently the scene of violent attacks aimed directly at Russian law enforcement personnel and facilities.
Moscow is trying to put down an insurgency that spread from Russia's troubled Chechnya region to other parts, mainly Muslim dominated north Caucasus.
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