MAKHACHKALA, March 20 (RIA Novosti) - The number of
service personnel killed in a special operation in Russia's
North Caucasus Republic of Daghestan has risen to five, a
spokesman for Daghestan's interior ministry said on Friday.
Earlier in the day, the death toll had stood at three with
three police officers wounded.
"As a result of a two-day special operation, five service
personnel died, three police officers were also wounded in the
clashes," the spokesman said. "For today, the special operation
was suspended at nightfall, it will resume early on Saturday."
The ministry also said from five to seven militants had
been killed during the operation, although the total figure was
unknown due to intense gunfire in the woodland area, where the
armed fighters were holed up.
The special operation in Kakashur started after a clash on
Wednesday between law enforcement officers and militants.
Police then encircled a group of 10 to 15 armed fighters.
The militants are thought to be members of a group aligned to
Magomedali Vagabov, who is on a federal and international
wanted list for attacks on police officers and
terrorist-related crimes.
Sporadic terrorist attacks and militant clashes are common in
Daghestan, and in neighboring Chechnya, although the Kremlin
has officially ended its military campaign to fight separatists
and terrorists there.
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