Ten militants eliminated in special operation in Caucasus region

The recent bombing in North Ossetia was followed by a string of successful anti-terror operations in the Caucasus region.

During these operations, ten militants have been killed in two separate incidents in another volatile Russian republic – Dagestan. There have been reports that there was a woman among the militants, but this information has not been confirmed yet.

Eight gunmen were surrounded in a private house in the republic's capital, Makhachkala. They refused to surrender, opened fire on the police and were killed during the gunfight. No casualties among law enforcement officers have been reported.

The National Anti-terrorist committee says that they were linked to a murder of a high-ranking police official in the North Caucasus. Currently the whole area is blocked off and the investigators are working at the scene.

Elsewhere, three militants were killed in another Dagestani village. Before being killed, though, they shot a top local official who was acting as a negotiator. Two law enforcement officers also died in the shootout.

Also, earlier on Sunday, the head of the North Caucasus special investigative department was killed in the city.

Security measures in the North Caucasus have been tightened after the deadly car blast in front of the central market in Vladikavkaz last Thursday morning.

Police in North Ossetia have put together a photofit of the car bomber behind that attack.