MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russian security forces shot dead five militants in Chechnya on July 13, Russian news agency Interfax reported, adding to the 17 who died in weekend violence in Russia's turbulent North Caucasus region.
The separatists were killed in two separate incidents, three when they failed to heed an order to halt their car on a road running through Chechnya early on July 13, a local Interior Ministry official was quoted as saying.
Two were shot when they resisted police trying to detain them near the village of Goi-Chu, the official told Interfax.
Violence has escalated across the region this year with frequent clashes also in nearby regions such as Dagestan and Ingushetia.