Nine people were killed Tuesday in anti-terror operations in Russia's restive North Caucasus region, the National Anti-Terrorist Committee said, DPA reported.
Five people in the republic of Kabardino-Balkariya died in a gun battle after passengers opened fire on security forces attempting to search their car. Authorities said the victims had been involved in planning terror attacks, according to the Russian Interfax news agency.
Three suspected terrorists and one member of security forces died in a confrontation in the republic of Dagestan, on the Caspian Sea, the report said.
The deaths followed the killing of three insurgents by special forces there the day before.
Russia has fought a war for more than two decades against insurgents in the Caucasus region. Islamic extremists, nationalists and bandits are among the groups participating in the insurgency.