Chechnya: Officials Say At Least 10 Killed In New Attack

Grozny, 14 May 2003 (RFE/RL) -- Chechen officials say at least 10 people were killed today in a new attack in Chechnya. Shamsail Saraliev, an official with the Moscow-backed Chechen administration, said the attack took place in the village of Iliskhan-Yurt, in southeastern Chechnya. He said that at least 10 people died and many were wounded. He said the attack apparently was carried out by a female suicide bomber.

Russian officials in Moscow did not immediately confirm the attack.

The attack comes two days after a suicide bomber drove a truck loaded with explosives into an administrative compound in northern Chechnya. The number of people known to have died in that attack today rose to 59. More than 200 were wounded.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for Monday's (12 May) blast. Chechen officials blamed separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov of being behind the attack, an allegation which Maskhadov has denied.