Police in Chechnya pursued a group of fighters into neighboring Ingushetia on Wednesday, cornering them at a home and sparking a gun battle that killed three fighters and one police officer, officials said. Ingush Interior Minister Beslan Khamkhoev said in televised comments that the fighters had fled from the southwestern Chechen district of Achkhoi-Martan after a battle with Chechen police. They moved into Ingushetia, pursued by Chechen forces, and holed up in a house basement in the village of Nesterovskaya, he said.Three of the fighters were killed during the gun battle at the house, said Roman Shchekotin, spokesman for the Interior Ministry's southern district, along with one Chechen police officer. Four other police were wounded. Khamkhoev said three police officers were wounded during the pursuit into Ingushetia and one fighter was killed. The battle ended when militants blew themselves up in the basement, news reports said.
| [sniff] I love happy endings! |