This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/8051690.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Chechen suicide blast kills three Chechen suicide blast kills three
(about 10 hours later)
A suicide bomber has blown himself up in the Chechen capital, Grozny, killing two policemen and injuring several others, security officials have said. A suicide bomber has blown himself up in the Chechen capital, Grozny, killing two policemen and a fellow attacker, Russian security officials have said.
The bomber had been trying to reach the interior ministry building, but was stopped at a checkpoint, they added.The bomber had been trying to reach the interior ministry building, but was stopped at a checkpoint, they added.
It is the second fatal bombing this week in the southern Russian republic.It is the second fatal bombing this week in the southern Russian republic.
Last month, the Russian government officially declared that the long-running conflict with Muslim separatists in Chechnya was over.Last month, the Russian government officially declared that the long-running conflict with Muslim separatists in Chechnya was over.
Russian forces have fought two major campaigns against separatist rebels in the republic since the collapse of the Soviet Union.Russian forces have fought two major campaigns against separatist rebels in the republic since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Rebel messageRebel message
A local security official said two unidentified men had tried to get through a checkpoint on a street in central Grozny about 500m from the republic's interior ministry building early on Friday morning, but had been stopped by police stationed there. Officials said two men had driven up to a checkpoint about 500m from the republic's interior ministry in central Grozny on Friday morning.
"At that moment one of the men ran towards a policeman, embraced him and blew himself up," he told the Russian news agency, Interfax. One got out of the car, walked up to the police stationed outside and detonated the explosive device he was carrying - killing two officers, his accomplice and injuring five other people, they added.
"Two policemen were killed, several more were wounded," he added. Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov insisted the republic was still safe
Chechnya's Interior Minister, Ruslan Alkhanov, later promised that "all measures will be taken to establish the identity of this terrorist and his connections." Earlier, security sources told Russian media that the bomber had "embraced" one of the guards before detonating his explosives.
Investigators are now trying to identify the remains of those responsible.
Chechnya's President, Ramzan Kadyrov, later praised the police officers who died for preventing "serious bloodshed".
"Those who carried out this act of terror wanted the widest attention, large casualties and put uncertainty and fear into the hearts of the people," he said.
But the pro-Kremlin leader insisted Chechnya was still safe.
"The incident has not had an effect on the situation in Grozny - in both the capital and elsewhere, the situation is absolutely calm."
The attack comes almost exactly a month after the official announcement from Moscow that the "counter-terrorism operation" in Chechnya was over because stability had been restored.The attack comes almost exactly a month after the official announcement from Moscow that the "counter-terrorism operation" in Chechnya was over because stability had been restored.
The BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says it is rare for Muslim rebels to be able to carry out an attack in Grozny, and a suicide bombing is even rarer.The BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says it is rare for Muslim rebels to be able to carry out an attack in Grozny, and a suicide bombing is even rarer.
It would appear to be a message from the separatists that the conflict is not over and that they remain a force to be reckoned with, our correspondent says.It would appear to be a message from the separatists that the conflict is not over and that they remain a force to be reckoned with, our correspondent says.
Earlier this week, two policemen and a bystander were killed in an explosion near the village of Belgata in southern Chechnya. Earlier this week, two policemen and a bystander were killed in an explosion near the village of Belgatoy in southern Chechnya.