Reports from Russia say there have been a number of attacks in the southern republic of Dagestan said to have been carried out by renegade Chechen fighters.

In one incident a group armed with grenades and machine guns attacked Russian soldiers at a tank base in Dagestan.

At least one civilian was killed.

The attackers are reported to have taken about ten soldiers and civilians hostage and tried to escape back into Chechnya but were caught in an exchange of fire with Russian soldiers.

Five of the fighters are reported to be in custody.

It's not known why the attacks were carried out.

Russian troops fought a twenty-one month war against Chechen separatists, withdrawing after a truce was signed in August 1996.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
 

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