Militants assault leave 85 dead in Russian province

Militants assault leave 85 dead in Russian province

In a coordinated attack by militants in Nalchik in the Russia's Caucasus region, 85 people died. They included 12 police officers, 12 civilians and more than 50 guerrillas. Nalchik is the capital of the predominantly Muslim republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. Seven more guerrillas were found dead in an outlying district and 17 others were captured. The fighting began on Thursday at around 8: 30 a.m.

This attack is the latest in a string of disturbances that have been taking place for over a year that are aimed at destabilizing North Caucasus region. Armed militants simultaneously launched attacked at three police stations, Nalchik's airport and the regional headquarters of the Interior Ministry and Federal Security Service. The attack on the airport was at the airport was resisted though.

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The violence that started in the 1990s is being continued by Chechen separatists who are fighting for a separate state. The separatist movement got a boost from the rising Islamic extremism that was bred in the last decade and spilled out of Chechnya's borders into Caucusus region. The insurgents are also trying to exploit other ethnic groups living in this impoverished region including the ethnic Russian Christians.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered that the town of Nalchik be sealed. Kabardino-Balkariya is the fifth of seven republics to be influenced by Chechen insurgency. Up to 1,500 Russian troops and 500 special forces soldiers have been sent to Nalchik. At least, 200 rebel fighters were reported to be involved. 17 of them had been detained according to an aide to the president of Kabardino-Balkaria.

Earlier in September of 2004, militants attacked a school in the town of Beslan, which is located 60 miles southeast of Nalchik. At least more than 300 people including hostages, rebels and police officers died in an explosion which was followed by a shootout.

Moscow's inability to control violence in Chechnya from spreading to other regions may have dangerous consequences in the future.