(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-03-20 13:56

MOSCOW - Nine people died overnight in armed clashes between security forces and rebels in the war-torn south Russian region of Chechnya, which has been relatively calm in recent years, Russian news agencies reported on Thursday.

Russia sent troops to Chechnya in 1994 and again in 1999 to put down separatist rebellions. In the last few years, Moscow has poured millions of dollars into rebuilding the province.

Five security officers, three separatists and a passer-by were killed during the gun battle in the Urus-Martanovskiy district just after 10:00 pm Moscow time (1900 GMT) on Wednesday night, Interfax reported.

"A group of 10 to 15 militants were discovered in a wood on the outskirts of the village of Alkhazurovo... An armed clash took place with law-enforcement officers," a security source was quoted as saying by Interfax.

The local resident was shot dead by escaping separatists when they fired on his car, while two other passengers were injured, agencies reported.

In the neighbouring North Caucasus region of Ingushetia, two Russian armoured personnel carriers were damaged in a roadside bomb explosion that left two soldiers wounded on Wednesday night, Ria news agency reported.

Violence from Chechnya has spilled over into neighbouring regions of the North Caucasus, Ingushetia and Dagestan.

Over the past year, shoot-outs have become more frequent in the adjoining regions than in Chechnya itself, which the Kremlin claims has been restored to near normality.