19 killed in Russia clash

At least 12 militants and seven Russian policemen were killed in a fierce clash between the two sides in a southern Russian village near the conflict-torn Chechnya.

The militants of the so-called Nogay battalion linked with Chechen militants were holed up in three houses in the village of Tukui Mekteb in Stavropol territory neighbouring Chechnya.

In the 24-hour-long gunbattle that ensued, at least 12 militants and seven policemen were killed. Seven other policemen were also injured.

The militants were under constant watch for some time and it was decided to "eliminate" them after their plan to attack a local school and take its students hostage was uncovered, a police source was quoted as saying by the state-run RIA Novosti.

In September 2004, a group of Chechnya-based militants had attacked a school in Beslan taking over students, teachers and parents hostage on the first day of the new academic year.

Over 300 people, mostly children were killed in the 3-day school siege.