A senior militant commander was among eight gunmen killed in a special operation on Sunday in Makhachkala, Russia's Dagestan republic, the national anti-terrorism committee said.
One of the gunned militants has been identified as Amir Magomed Sheikhov. "He was appointed to post by the armed gang three months ago," the spokesman said.
Russian police blocked a group of gunmen in Makhachkala, the capital of Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, earlier on Sunday. A counterterrorist regime was imposed in the city.
A total of eight militants were killed in the operation. The group barricaded themselves in a private house in Makhachkala. The residents of the house were evacuated.
The gunmen are suspected of killing of a policeman in the city on Thursday. The assailants opened gunfire on a police patrol when they were stopped.
PYATIGORSK, December 26 (RIA Novosti)
