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Leader of gunmen's group killed in Dagestan

MOSCOW, January 18, /ITAR-TASS/. Gunmen, including a leader of an illegal armed group, have been killed in a special operation in the village of Semender in Makhachkala's suburbs, Dagestan, the National Antiterrorism Committee's information centre told Itar-Tass.

Members of the Makhachkala terrorist group were detected hot on the trail in a special operation conducted against bandits involved in the attack committed on Friday in Makhachkala, where fire was opened from a grenade launcher and a bomb was set off near a restaurant.

The counterterrorist operation regime was imposed in the village of Semender overnight. Special-purpose forces of the Federal Security Service and the Russian Interior Ministry blocked the gunmen in a house.

The NAC reported earlier that after negotiations with the blocked bandits, a woman with three children left the house.

During the operation, when negotiations continued, the gunmen twice attempted to break through the cordon and escape. The attempts were thwarted, a NAC source said.

Seven bandits have been neutralized. Among them is Makhmud Aliyev, who became leader of the Makhachkala gang three days ago, and 26-year-old Zaira Aliyeva, widow of a bandit who was neutralized earlier. Bandits planned to use her as a suicide bomber.

Law enforcement sources reported earlier that five to seven people were in the house.

The gunmen were blocked by law-enforcers on Friday night. The operation was suspended till Saturday morning. However, the gunmen opened fire at night and attempted to break through, but they failed, a local law-enforcement source told Itar-Tass earlier.

As was reported, the forces began to storm the house. According to the NAC's information, some still remained in the house, and the operation was continuing.

A gunman was killed in another exchange of fire in Dagestan on Friday night. The fighting took place near the settlement of Kichi-Gamri at 23:00. None among law-enforcers was hurt there.