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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Russians ambushed in Ingushetia | Russians ambushed in Ingushetia |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Russian troops have launched a search for militants in the volatile southern region of Ingushetia after a deadly attack on a military convoy. | |
| Official Russian reports of the ambush, which has been blamed on local Muslim separatists, said two soldiers were killed and at least seven injured. | |
| But other reports suggested as many as 40 Russian soldiers were killed. | |
| The convoy came under grenade attack and machine gun fire near Nazran, capital of the north Caucasus region. | The convoy came under grenade attack and machine gun fire near Nazran, capital of the north Caucasus region. |
| Frequent attacks | Frequent attacks |
| "A search of the area is currently taking place, the bandits who carried out the attack on a defence ministry military column are being tracked," said a Russian official, quoted by Interfax news agency. | "A search of the area is currently taking place, the bandits who carried out the attack on a defence ministry military column are being tracked," said a Russian official, quoted by Interfax news agency. |
| Russian news agencies reported that one armoured personnel carrier and two lorries had been damaged in the incident. | Russian news agencies reported that one armoured personnel carrier and two lorries had been damaged in the incident. |
| However, an Ingushetian law enforcement source quoted by Reuters said 40 soldiers were killed in the ambush. | However, an Ingushetian law enforcement source quoted by Reuters said 40 soldiers were killed in the ambush. |
| The source said three armoured personnel carriers and two lorries were hit, and all but one of the soldiers in the convoy were killed. | The source said three armoured personnel carriers and two lorries were hit, and all but one of the soldiers in the convoy were killed. |
| If confirmed this would be the worst loss for the Russian military in a series of recent attacks on troops in Ingushetia. | If confirmed this would be the worst loss for the Russian military in a series of recent attacks on troops in Ingushetia. |
| The territory borders on Chechnya, where Russian forces have engaged in heavy fighting with separatist rebels in recent years. | The territory borders on Chechnya, where Russian forces have engaged in heavy fighting with separatist rebels in recent years. |
| The Ingush authorities say they are fighting a war against terrorism, and blame Islamist militants for the attacks. | The Ingush authorities say they are fighting a war against terrorism, and blame Islamist militants for the attacks. |
| Last month the Moscow Helsinki Group, a human rights organisation, said "state-sponsored terror" in Ingushetia could plunge the country into civil war. | Last month the Moscow Helsinki Group, a human rights organisation, said "state-sponsored terror" in Ingushetia could plunge the country into civil war. |