Posted on 10/13/2005 1:26:15 AM PDT by txroadkill
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A massive gunbattle raged in a town in Russia's turbulent Caucasus region on Thursday after armed men, described by police as "religious extremists", attacked police buildings and other targets.
Interfax news agency said the group staged a wave of simultaneous attacks on strategic buildings housing Russian forces in Nalchik, main city of the Muslim Kabardino-Balkaria region, which is near rebel Chechnya.
"At the present moment, federal forces have clashed with certain armed bands. Steps are being taken to eliminate the bandits," Nikolai Shepel, deputy state prosecutor for the region, was quoted as saying by Interfax.
"Fighting is going on everywhere. The attackers are trying to seize cars and burst their way out of the town," an unnamed military source was quoted as saying by Interfax.
Sources said there had been deaths among the civilian population. "It's a little too soon to say how many," one source was quoted as saying by Interfax.
RIA Novosti agency later quoted a regional security source as saying the attacks had been beaten off and a hunt was underway to track down the armed gangs responsible.
Kabardino-Balkaria is a Muslim region in the Caucasus that borders the North Ossetia province where Chechen militants attacked a school in the town of Beslan in September 2004, resulting in the deaths of 331 people, half of them children.
The attacks bore the hallmarks of an operation by pro-Chechen militants who have been fighting for Chechnya independence since the early 1990s, and posed a new challenge to President Vladimir Putin's hardline policy in the region.
Chechen separatist leader Abdul-Khalid Sadulayev has tried to set up what he calls a "Caucasus front" since he took over the leadership of the movement in March, and said attacks in other Muslim regions would be coordinated with those by his own forces.
The attack on Nalchik was reminiscent of an operation in June 2004 when pro-Chechen militants attacked police buildings in Nazran and effectively seized control of Ingushetia -- near to Kabardino-Balkaria -- for several hours. About 60 people, many of them police, were killed in that attack.
ATTEMPTED ATTACK ON AIRPORT
The armed group in Nalchik, apart from attacking police buildings, Russian army units based in the region and a gun store, also tried to seize the regional airport but were repelled, agencies said.
"At the present time fighting is going on across practically the whole of the territory of Nalchik. Forces are carrying out operations to liquidate the fighters," Interfax quoted an emergencies ministry official as saying.
Itar-Tass news agency, describing the attackers as "religious extremists", quoted police sources as saying three attackers had been killed and their firearms and explosives had been seized.
Agencies said automatic firing resounded around the town and smoke was rising from the main police building that had come under attack.
Children were evacuated from a school nearby, the agency said. Extra security forces were being drafted into the town.
I don't know why but a gun store in the middle of all that struck me as odd.
"I don't know why but a gun store in the middle of all that struck me as odd."
Maybe some of the "religious extremists" left their guns at home.
Religion of Peace Strikes again!
I understand they are after the guns. It's just the idea that there's a gun store in the region. I'm left with a Gary Larson "Far Side" image in my head.
Apologies for jumping to conclusions earlier, but again I'm not that surprised, the AK is a reliable (very) low maintenance weapon but it will ocasionally break-down beyond the talent or ability of the owner to repair it, if there is money to be made from some form of service, usualy there are people who will jump in to it and start making money of it.
As in Islamic terrorist thugs?
Moscow's lingo has not changed since Stalin. "Forces are carrying out operations to liquidate the fighters,"
Not a problem. The whole area is a mystery to me.
11:27 Chechen rebels say they were behind attack on Nalchik (AP)
11:26 Russian forces kill 50 of 150 gunmen who attacked southern Russia (Reuters)
Current from Haaretz Flash
(http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/ShTickers.html)
Islamic extremists...
Now here we go jumping to conclusions again.
It could not be the peaceful islamics, its more of a fighting religion....like an army...
I know, it's probably the Salvation Army rising up to take over the land.
Pretty good map of the region.
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/commonwealth/georgia_rel99.jpg
When I heard that "religious extremists" were involved, I concluded it must be those pesky Methodists again.
Imagain my shock upon learning the murderous bastards were Islamists!
Shocked, Shocked I tell you.
Semper Fi
That's it! The battle of the thrift shops hits the Transcaucasia's. Fire-fights have broken out over a new donation of multi-size, ladies Saks made, full length winter coats, with mink collars, or it might be those Gucci sweaters on isle three! :)
Yep, Methodists causing trouble again like always. They are the problem in the world those Methodists.
LOL
What a cunning bunch as well. All these years, masquarading as pacifists, just waiting for the moment to strike! Why did we not see it coming?
And to think I helped fund it, every Christmas, $5 here, $10 there in those "kettles". Little did I know. I feel so stupid.
That was then, this is now. All of 'em are long dead. The best they're fielding now are suicide brain dead types imported from abroad.
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