Many Killed in Ingushetia Capital Attacks

22/06/2004| IslamWeb

Heavy fighting has broken out in a republic bordering Chechnya after fighters, believed to be Chechen fighters, launched attacks on several key targets including an interior ministry building. Russian news agency Itar-Tass said early reports on Tuesday suggested that at least 10 people had been killed in the fighting so far. The skirmish broke out after coordinated attacks were launched late on Monday night in Nazran, capital of Ingushetia. Clashes between the fighters and law enforcement authorities were reported in several towns in the republic that until recently housed tens of thousands of refugees who fled the fighting in Chechnya. A skirmish was also reported in the capital of Dagestan, a republic that lies east of Chechnya - but it appeared to be unrelated to the attacks in Ingushetia. **Toll may be high*** Fighting raged around at least five police buildings and checkpoints, according to the Ingushetiya.ru news site, after starting at 18:00 GMT on Monday. The interior ministry building in the regional capital Nazran was reportedly ablaze, and residents in Karabulak heard automatic gunfire and overflying helicopters throughout the night. Witnesses also reported seeing a military vehicle column come under gunfire a few minutes after entering Ingushetia from the neighboring republic of North Ossetia. **Major battle*** Apart from the ministry building, the fighters attacked a major border guard building setting it ablaze and interior ministry arms depots, the agencies said. Taking cover in their cellars, residents in the town said they could hear the sound of grenade-launchers and small arms being used in what seemed like a major battle. Police reinforcements were being rushed to the area, the agencies said. **Area of conflict*** Ingushetia, which borders Chechyna, has witnessed numerous attacks in the past few years. Ingushetia's pro-Moscow president, Murat Zyazikov, survived an assassination attempt on 6 April when an explosive-laden car rammed into his motorcade. On 15 September 2003, the regional headquarters of Russia's security service, the FSB, was destroyed by a bomb attack ahead of Kremlin-organized presidential elections in the war-torn republic. Thousands of Chechen refugees, who had escaped the conflict to neighbouring Ingushetia, were forced to return to their homes when Russian authorities closed the last refugee camp in Satsita on the Chechen border. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Russian investigators look at dead bodies on a street in Nazran. (AFP)