Chechen rebels ambushed and killed 10 policemen while they were investigating the kidnap and murder of two colleagues, a spokesman for Russia's Interior Ministry said today.
The spokesman told reporters another two policemen had also been injured in the ambush in Chechnya's Shelkovskaya district, but he did not have full details.
Interfax news agency said rebels had attacked a seven-car police convoy close to the village of Poraboch, sparking a gun battle which lasted about two hours.
The police, all local Chechens, were investigating the kidnap and murder of Shelkovskaya police chief Lom-Ali Abduyev and his son, also a policeman. The two were found dead at dawn today, dumped on a road with their throats cut, Interfax said.
Abduyev's brother was also murdered the same day, the agency said.
Chechen rebels, fighting their second war against Russian troops since 1994, have repeatedly warned Chechens not to co-operate with federal security forces or take up posts in the Moscow-backed administration.
Several local officials have been murdered in recent weeks.