Police Battle Militants In Daghestan

(RFE/RL) 3 January 2006 -- Security forces are reported to be fighting a group of alleged militants in a mountainous region of southern Russia.

Russian media reported today that security forces backed by helicopters had surrounded a group of up to five alleged militants in the Untsukul region of Daghestan.

Meanwhile in the restive neighboring republic of Chechnya, two Interior Ministry troops were killed late yesterday when a group of assailants opened fire on a security checkpoint in Kurchaloi district.

(Interfax/newsru.com)