Posted on 06/20/2007 10:25:50 AM PDT by NativeNewYorker
June 20 (UPI) -- Five local policemen were killed in a shootout with soldiers in the capital of Russia's war-ravaged southern republic of Chechnya, Interfax reported, citing an unidentified local military official.
The policemen came under fire after they stopped a car with a soldier and got into a dispute with him, with both sides calling in reinforcements, the Moscow-based news agency reported.
Russia invaded Chechnya, a mainly Muslim republic in the north Caucasus, in 1999 to quell a separatist rebellion. Russia in 2003 gave Chechen security forces control over local law enforcement. Most of the new police are former rebels now loyal to the republic's president, Ramzan Kadyrov.
Man, talk about rough and tumble.
The wild west done gone east!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.