Police close in on militants in Dagestan

In Russia’s southern region of Dagestan, police are using helicopters to hunt down suspected militants in the remote villages of the Tabasaranskiy District. The operation follows a shoot-out on Tuesday.

Sources suggest up to 15 members of an illegal armed group could be hiding out in the area.  There were no reports of gunfire as the police manoervre go under way.

Several passport check-points have been set up in the villages, in the hope of intercepting the men as they try to escape the region.

On Tuesday, two militants were killed, and one soldier was wounded during cross-fire.