Two militant leaders killed in Russia

The National Anti-Terrorism Committee said Magomed "Al-Bara" Abdusalamov was shot dead near Khuchni, with no casualties among the law enforcement officials.

Abdusalamov, the alleged head of the "Izberbash gang", was transporting in his car a powerful bomb made from a 100-litre barrel filled with explosives, which was defused by a bomb squad.

In the second incident, police shot dead Nazhmudin "Abu-Zeit" Nazhmudinov, the leader of the "Tsumada gang".

A policeman was killed and two others wounded during the gun battle, along with Nazhmudinov's woman aide Zarema Ramadanova, who also fired at the officers.