Battle at Avtury settlement in Chechnya lasted almost twenty-four hours

As a result of yesterday's fighting in the vicinity of Avtury settlement in Chechnya 15 militants were killed, spokesman of the Regional operative headquarters in charge of control of the anti-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus has reported.

"According to the latest data as a result of the fight in the Shali district 15 militants were killed. At present identification measures are being carried out, the headquarters spokesman told RIA Novosti.

According to him, the bandits managed to carry away bodies of a few killed militants from the site of the fighting. "It is difficult to say exactly what bandit formation the killed militants belonged to, however there is no doubt that they were involved in illegal armed formations, the headquarters spokesman said.

He added that among those killed were five officers of the Chechen presidential security service and four Chechen policemen. The number of wounded exceeds a dozen. He pointed out that the searches for the bandits who managed to escape still continue.

Earlier first vice premier of the Chechen Republic Ramazan Kadyrov said that as a result of the fighting which lasted from the night of July 12 were killed 20 militants and 18 officers of the Chechen presidential security service.

During the ambush actions a special task force group of federal troops got engaged in fighting with a 15-20-man strong gang in the vicinity of Avtury which was advancing from this settlement.

As a result, the bandits were dispersed and escaped in the forest area. On the same night the rest of the bandit group was discovered in southern outskirts of Avrtury by the officers of the security service of Chechnya's president.