17 federal soldiers killed in a clash with fighters in Ingushetia - 27 September, 2002

The federal forces have lost 17 men in a clash with fighters which took place in Ingushetia (a North Caucasian republic bordering on Chechnya in the East), Sergei Adamov, the acting chief of the Southern Federal District's Department of the Russian Prosecutor-General's Office, was quoted as saying on Friday.

According to him, three fighters were imprisoned and criminal proceedings against the detainees instituted. Another two suspected accomplices were also arrested, Adamov noted.

The criminal proceedings have been instigated by the Ingush Prosecutor's Office. An investigation team also includes investigators from the Southern Federal District's Department of the Prosecutor-General's office.