Four policemen, five militants killed in shoot-outs in southern Russia

Four policemen have been killed and another four wounded in a clash with militants in Russia's southern republic of Chechnya. Two militants were also killed in the shoot-out. Meanwhile, in Dagestan three miltants have be

Officers were carrying out a search operation in the republic's Vedeno district when a number of gunmen reportedly opened fire.

Two of the militants were also killed in the shoot-out.

Police are said to be combing the area for the rest of the group.

In another operation in the republic of Dagestan, three militants – one of them a woman – were killed in a shoot-out in a block of flats in the republic's capital, Makhachkala.

The republic's Interior Ministry says they belonged to a secret terrorist group.
 
Weapons and ammunition were found at the scene.