Ingushetia minister escapes bomb

Attacks against security forces are on the rise in Ingushetia

The interior minister of the troubled Russian republic of Ingushetia has escaped an apparent assassination attempt by a suicide bomber.

The bomber, who was in a car, detonated his device when he was alongside the car carrying Interior Minister Musa Medov, officials said.

The bomber was killed and at least two passers-by were wounded, but Mr Medov and his aides were unhurt, they said.

Last week a human rights group warned Ingushetia was verging on civil war.

Attacks on soldiers and police are a regular occurrence in the region. It borders on Chechnya, where Russian forces have engaged in heavy fighting with separatist rebels in recent years.

The Ingush authorities say they are fighting a war against terrorism, and blame Islamist militants for the attacks.

The Moscow Helsinki Group last week said Ingush authorities, backed by the Kremlin, were engaged in kidnappings, torture and extra-judicial killings.