10 Islamic rebels killed in northern Caucasus

MOSCOW - Russian special forces killed at least 10 Islamic rebels in two separate clashes in the troubled North Caucasus region, the Interior Ministry said Saturday.

According to Itar-Tass, the ministry said that one operation by the special forces took place in a forest in Dagestan, with five rebels and one policeman killed.

The ministry said the “bandits” - Moscow’s official term for the rebels - were held responsible for numerous attacks in the region.

In the neighbouring Kabardino-Balkaria republic, five rebels were killed after taking refuge in a house in the capital of Nalchik, the ministry said.

The clashes were the latest violence in the region where Islamic elements are challenging Moscow’s authority with the stated aim of establishing a “Caucasus Emirate”.