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Gunmen besieged in Caucasus town Caucasus gunmen 'put to flight'
(about 6 hours later)
Fighting has erupted between a small group of suspected militants and Russian security forces in the North Caucasus town of Cherkessk. Russian security forces have stormed an apartment in the North Caucasus town of Cherkessk, killing at least one gunman, Russian media report.
Russian media said troops sealed off an apartment block in the town centre, where about three gunmen were holed up. Earlier at least three suspected Islamist militants were reported to be exchanging fire with Russian forces surrounding the five-storey building.
Unconfirmed reports say one was captured and others fled the scene.
Cherkessk, in the Russian republic of Karachay-Cherkessia, lies west of war-ravaged Chechnya.
No other casualties were reported in the clash.
Early on Monday troops sealed off the apartment block on Lenin Prospect in the town centre, where about three gunmen were holed up.
A Russian TV reporter said several explosions were heard and residents were evacuated from the area.A Russian TV reporter said several explosions were heard and residents were evacuated from the area.
Cherkessk, capital of the Russian republic of Karachay-Cherkessia, lies west of war-ravaged Chechnya. Local officials described the gunmen as "Wahhabi" Muslims.
The besieged apartment block is on Lenin Prospect, the town's main street. The Itar-Tass news agency named the dead gunman as Timur Tokov, a follower of a wanted militant called Achmez Gochiyayev.
The authorities said classes were cancelled at a nearby kindergarten and school after the fighting erupted.
The identity of the militants remains unclear, although some local officials described them as "Wahhabi" Muslims.
Karachay-Cherkessia has seen less militant violence in recent years than the republics immediately adjacent to Chechnya - Ingushetia and Dagestan.Karachay-Cherkessia has seen less militant violence in recent years than the republics immediately adjacent to Chechnya - Ingushetia and Dagestan.