LOC16:36
13:36 GMT
MOSCOW, Feb 17 (KUNA) -- Up to 13 Russian soldiers and seven Chechen gunmen
met their deaths as the result of a wide scale security operation by Russian
forces carried out in Chechnya, it was learned here today.
The Russian forces were able to kill the seven gunmen in a gun battle in
the mountainous regions in eastern Chechnya, Interfax news agency quoted
Russian security forces as saying.
These forces have been involved in a mopping up operation in the regions of
Chechnya and Daghestan, against armed fighters there.
In addition to the 13 dead soldiers killed by Chechen gunmen, twenty other
soldiers were wounded by them. (end)
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KUNA 171636 Feb 12NNNN