Rebel ambush targets Chechnya convoy

A rebel ambush in Chechnya has killed at least 12 people, reports say.

The attack - a car bomb followed by intensive gunfire - was targeted at a military convoy in the south-east of the country, Interfax news agency reported.

Four of the dead were reported to be Russian soldiers and two were local employees working with the Russians. The other were six civilians, said Interfax, quoting military sources.

The attack happened late on Tuesday in the village of Oktyabrskoye in the Kurchaloi district.

Hidden

The car bomb had been planted near a local market. After it exploded, catching the convoy in its blast, rebels hidden nearby opened fire.

Military officials said one suspected rebel had been arrested.

Russian troops have been involved in a long and bloody war against Chechen separatists.

The Russian forces renewed their military activity there two years ago after a series of major bomb attacks inside Russia, which were blamed on Chechens.