LONDON - Russian police have clashed with a Chechen "gang" near the border with the separatist Chechnya region and there were casualties on both sides, Russia's Interfax news agency reported early today.
The agency, monitored by the BBC, quoted the commander of Russian forces in the North Caucasus, Partagen Andriyevskiy, as saying the Chechens had crossed the border and were trying to make their way into the neighbouring region of Dagestan. He said there were dead and wounded on both sides.
All crossing points on the Chechen border were being closed from 2 a.m. today, Andriyevskry said. Troops all along the border were on full alert, he added.