Gunmen kill three cops in south Russia

SADOVY, Russia, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Three police officers in southern Russia were shot to death as they transported a prisoner Friday, authorities said.

The officers were in a car transporting the prisoner near the village of Sadovy in the North Caucasus republic of Karachai-Circassia, police spokeswoman Yevgeniya Bastanova told RIA Novosti. The prisoner escaped.

"Three policemen were killed. The assailants freed the prisoner and fled the scene," she said.

Gunmen Wednesday invaded a cafe in another North Caucasus republic, Kabardino-Balkaria, and killed execution-style five policemen as they ate lunch, RIA Novosti said.