Militants have killed eight civil engineers in the southern republic of Dagestan in Russia. The bandits had set an ambush for a column which was on its way to investigate a nighttime attack on a communication station.
The motorcade of civilians and police guards which was attacked was made up of some 40 personnel.
The criminals used explosives to stop the convoy and then engaged them in a fierce gun battle.
At least eight people were killed in the initial explosion, which heavily damaged the repair crew’s vehicle. Four policemen have been injured.
The engineers and policemen were making their way to a communication station near the village of Venashimakhi. Militants had blown up a mobile phone network tower and a local TV retranslation station.