Two militants were killed late on Saturday in a shootout with police in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia following a wild car chase, RIA Novosti reported according to local police.
According to the report, police tried to stop a car following a tip received during an investigation into a recent attack on law enforcement officers near the city of Nazran. The occupants of the car opened fire at police officers and were killed in the ensuing shootout.
Police found two Makarov pistols, two self-made explosive devices and ammunition at the site.
The two militants are suspected to have been involved in an attack on police officers on July 20 and killings of local civilians.
Russia's mainly Muslim North Caucasus republics, especially Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia, have seen an upsurge of militant violence lately, with frequent attacks on police and officials.
The Kremlin has pledged to wage "a ruthless fight" against militant groups but also acknowledged a need to tackle unemployment, organized crime, clan rivalry and corruption as causes of the ongoing violence.
Moscow announced an end to its decade-long antiterrorism campaign against separatists in Chechnya in April 2009, but has since had to step up the fight against militants as skirmishes and attacks on police and other officials have continued.
Two militants killed in Russia's volatile North Caucasus
Two militants were killed late on Saturday in a shootout with police in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia following a wild car chase, RIA Novosti reported according to local police.
