Rebels attack another pro-Russian official in Chechnya

MOSCOW (AP) -- A government official in Chechnya was wounded and her brother killed when an explosion ripped through her home Thursday, the latest in a series of attacks on pro-Russian officials.

Russian officials say Chechen rebels are targeting local officials who work with federal authorities as part of a campaign to cripple Moscow's efforts to build a stable local government.

A bomb went off early Thursday at the house of Isita Gairbekova, head of Chechnya's Nozhai-Yurt district. Gairbekova, her mother and sister were injured, while her brother was killed, said an official with the pro-Moscow Chechen administration, speaking on condition of anonymity.

On Wednesday, a pro-Moscow Chechen official in the republic's Urus-Martan region was killed in a bomb blast.

Chechen rebels have repeatedly targeted pro-Moscow Chechens as well as Russian troops and officials. They say Chechens who cooperate with the Russians are traitors.

Meanwhile, a Russian soldier and a policeman were killed when rebels attacked 11 checkpoints overnight Thursday, the Interfax news agency reported. Three servicemen were wounded, the agency said.

The Russians were still beefing up security in the capital Grozny and other cities around Chechnya on Thursday, in advance of possible attacks Sunday, the fourth anniversary of the day rebels captured Grozny in the 1994-96 Chechen war.

Russian troops left Chechnya in defeat after that conflict. They returned to Chechnya in September, after a series of cross-border raids by Islamic militants and four bombings in Russia that killed some 300 people.

Copyright 2000 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For more Europe news, myCNN.com will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select.

See related sites about Europe

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.