Six killed as Islamist gang storms Chechen parliament

At least six people were killed when suspected Islamist insurgents stormed the Chechen parliament complex.

Russian police spokesman Ramzan Bekkhoyev said two police officers and one parliamentary official died. At least three insurgents were also killed .

Mr Bekkhoyev said gunmen ran into the building shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) as they opened fire on people inside.

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The attackers were killed in an ensuing gunfight with police, said Chechen presidential spokesman Alvi Kerimov.

One insurgent set off a bomb at the gates of the parliament complex in Grozny, killing himself and wounding others, Mr Bekkhoyev said. All of the attackers were believed to be dead.

Russian news agencies reported that insurgents had also attacked the Agriculture Ministry building. The building is in the same complex as the parliament.

Restive Chechnya in the Russian North Caucasus has been battling an Islamist insurgency for years despite the iron rule of its Moscow-backed president, Ramzan Kadyrov. Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev is in Grozny and holding talks with Mr Kadyrov.

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Shots were earlier reported inside the office of the parliament's speaker, Dukvakha Abdurakhmanov, but later reports said he was safe.

Russia fought two wars with Chechen separatists in the 1990s before finally installing a loyal government there in 2000.