Militant Leader, 4 Islamist Rebels Killed in Dagestan Shootout

March 26, 2014

A suspected militant leader and four members of his armed group were killed Tuesday in a shootout with police in Russia's restive North Caucasus republic of Dagestan.

The National Anti-Terrorism Committee identified the militant leader as Tural Ataev, a 28-year-old native of Azerbaijan, who reportedly headed a militant group in the Babayurt district of Dagestan.

One police officer was killed and another wounded in the shootout with the militants, the anti-terrorism body said.

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