Militants attack Chechen village inflicting casualties

A group of armed militants attacked last night the Chechen village of Avtury.

Their targets were policemen and state employees, head of the Shali district administration Sherip Alikhadzhiyev told RIA Novosti.

The militants killed Khadzhimurat Yusupkhadzhiyev, a soldier assigned to the Military Commandant's company, and old Ali Idrisov, whose two sons are policemen. The sons were not at home during the attack.

Later on, the rebels broke into the house of the local administration's head, but he was not at home either.

The attackers also set on fire 7-8 houses of local residents, Alikhadzhiyev reported. They mainly belonged to local officials.

An investigation into the attack has been launched.