Gunman blows himself up during police shootout

A militant suspected of murdering policemen has been killed along with a female associate during a stand-off with security forces in the Russian republic of Dagestan in the North Caucasus.

Officers sealed off the house in the Khasavyurt region, where 32- year-old Saiputdin Ibragimov was hiding with several women.

It’s reported that he refused to surrender. Police say Ibragimov opened fire on them shortly after two women left the house.

During the stand-off the militant detonated a grenade, killing himself and his female accomplice who was wearing a suicide bomber's belt.

There are no reports of any police casualties.