Militant group retreats from Daghestan to Chechnya

The militant group that has infiltrated the village of Shauri in Daghestan's Tsuntin district is retreating towards Chechnya, report Russian border-guards.

"The 20-25 men strong group is moving towards the administrative border between Chechnya and Daghestan," the North Caucasus border-guard department of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) told RIA Novosti.

Police Major Andzhela Martirosova, deputy head of the Daghestani Interior Ministry's press service, said earlier that the group and hostages were retreating towards the Russian-Georgian border.

The militants apparently took four villagers, including a doctor, hostage, according to the FSB border-guard department.

"More Interior Ministry forces and border-guards have been pulled to the administrative border. Measures have been taken in Chechnya's Nozhai Yurt district, which neighbours Daghestan, to deter the militants' breakthrough attempts," said the department.

Daghestan's FSB said the group may be 50 men strong. "They may have infiltrated the republic in 3 groups, and are now trying to flee to Chechnya," said an FSB officer.

Ten border-guards, including the frontier outpost commander, were killed in a clash with the militant group on Monday, reported the border-guards.