Fighting flares up in Chechnya

There's been heavy fighting in Chechnya near the city of Argun, following the killing there last night by unknown gunmen of a senior pro-Russian local official, Saipudi Aksaktemirov.

Chechen officials reported that three pro-Moscow policemen were also killed in Argun yesterday by Chechen separatists.

Correspondents say Russian forces have retaliated with concerted artillery attacks on suspected rebel positions in the area.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service