2 Officers, Muslim Leader Killed in Caucasus

By The Associated Press

Sep. 20, 2009

MOSCOW — Authorities say two anti-terrorism officers have been killed in Ingushetia and a Muslim spiritual leader who worked against Wahhabism was killed in a nearby region.

Much of the rising violence in Russia's Caucasus republics is connected to insurgents apparently inspired by Chechnya's separatists.

Ingush Interior Ministry spokeswoman Madina Khadzhiyeva said the two officers were killed by gunfire while traveling on the region's main highway at midday Sunday.

Karachayevo-Cherkessia's Interior Ministry said the deputy head of the region's Muslim spiritual authority, Islam Bostanov, was shot early Sunday. The ministry said the killing is believed to be connected to his work to eradicate Wahhabism, the fundamentalist Muslim creed that Russian officials blame for inspiring Caucasus militants.

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