22 June 2004, 13:56
Rebels attack Ingushetia
On June 21, at about 22:45 Moscow time, several rebel groups numbering 200 people attacked 20 points on the territory of the republic of Ingushetia.
As of 9:30 Moscow time, 46 people are said to have been killed in the clashes, reported a source in the republican interior ministry. It has been established that there are 18 law enforces and 28 civilians among the killed people.
However there is no doubt that the number of victims will grow. According to media reports, 30 policemen were killed only in the attack on the Nazran district police department.
Among the killed people are Acting Ingush Interior Minister Abukar Kostoyev, Deputy Ingush Interior Minister Zyaudin Kotiyev, Prosecutor of the Nazran district Belan Oziyev, and Prosecutor of the town of Nazran Mukharbek Buzurtanov.
From 50 to 200 people were wounded, according to the Office of the Russian President's Plenipotentiary in the South Federal District.
At 4:00 Moscow time, Ingush law enforcement agencies took control of the situation in settlements of the republic. Republican special operations units are searching for and destroying the bandit groups.
The North Caucasian Frontier Department of the Russian Federal Security Service and other security agencies in the federal district are on higher state of alert.
The rebels took losses in dead and wounded, the Russian President's Plenipotentiary in the South Federal District Vladimir Yakovlev announced.
It is worth reminding that separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov told Radio Liberty the day before that Chechen separatists would change their tactics in the near future and switch from terror attacks to offensive actions using methods of "classic" war.
Source: RosBusinessConsulting News Agency
