Explosion Derails Freight Train In Daghestan

An explosive device placed on a railway line derailed a freight train early today in Russia's troubled North Caucasus republic of Daghestan.

Russian news agencies report there was an explosion on the tracks near the village of Pervomaiskoye, derailing eight carriages. No casualties were reported.

Islamist militants have stepped up attacks in recent months throughout Russia's Caucasus region.

On March 31, suicide bombers killed 12 people, including nine police officers, in the town of Kizlyar in Daghestan.

Two days earlier, twin suicide bombings killed 40 people on the Moscow metro. Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov claimed responsibility for that attack.

Compiled from agency reports