8 militants killed in special operation in Chechnya

Eight militants were killed yesterday in the course of a special operation in Chechnya's Shali district, a source in the United Federal Forces told RIA Novosti on Monday.

"Searching for militants not far from the village of Germenchuk on Saturday, the federal forces came across a militant base designed to accommodate 50 people, complete with an underground labyrinth," said the source. "The military laid an ambush. On the next day, they got into a clash with 20 militants, who tried to get inside and killed eight bandits, while the rest retreated and managed to escape." Searching the site after the clash, the soldiers picked up six Kalashnikov assault rifles, 20 grenades, shells and other ammunition. "The killed militants are being identified. None of the federal soldiers were hurt," the source told RIA Novosti.