Four killed in Russian militant attacks

MAKHACHKALA, Russia, May 17 (UPI) -- Three Russian police officers and one civilian were killed in separate incidents in Russia's North Caucasus states during the weekend, police said Sunday.

RIA Novosti reported that the policeman and one civilian were killed Saturday night in the capital of Daghestan, after unidentified assailants opened fire with assault rifles from a car.

In a separate incident, a policeman and a local resident were wounded early Sunday during a shootout with militants in the Republic of Ingushetia.

Police said two gunmen were killed in the clash with authorities, the Russian news service reported.

In a third incident, a policeman in Chechnya died of wounds received during a sweep operation in Ingushetia.