Russia paras to Dagestan

Russian paratroopers are being sent to Dagestan to help the local authorities disarm Islamic militants, after anti-government riots last week.

The Dagestan Interior Minister Adilgirey Magomed Tagirov said that the troops from a Russian airborne division would help relieve tensions, after a government building in the provincial capital, Makhachkala, was stormed by gunmen last week.

Two members of the security forces were killed.

Russia has called the disturbances a threat to national security.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service