5 police officers killed in Chechnya blast, authorities say
ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia (AP) — A remote-controlled bomb exploded on a roadside in the capital of troubled Chechnya, leaving five police officers dead, while another officer was fatally shot near the city, regional authorities said Monday.
The regional Emergency Situations Ministry said the bomb blast took place late Sunday in the city of Grozny. Two other officers were seriously wounded in the attack, the ministry said.
The police were part of a squad of 10 that was working to tighten security in the city ahead of this week's inauguration of new Russian president Dmitry Medvedev and the celebration of Victory Day, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany.
In 2004, Chechen president Akhmad Kadyrov was killed in a bomb blast at a stadium where he was attending Victory Day ceremonies.
The republic's Interior Ministry reported that a traffic officer was fatally shot while traveling on a road in the Grozny region.
Although major fighting between separatists and Russian troops died down years ago, Chechen rebels continue small hit-and-run attacks on soldiers and police.
