A 22-year-old civilian was killed when he picked up a booby-trapped videotape in Chechnya's eastern Kurchaloi area, Russian army officials said Thursday.
Kurchaloi's neighboring regions of Nozhai-Yurt and Vedeno, as well as Urus-Martan to the south of the capital Grozny, have the highest levels of criminal activity in Chechnya, local officials told ITAR-TASS.
More than 10 crimes, including the murders of police and members of the civilian administration occurred in the Urus-Martan region this month alone, local councillor Khamid Inalov told the news agency.
Chechen rebels opened fire on federal forces more than 20 times in the past 24 hours, army officials told the AVN military news agency.
Federal sources reported no casualties.
Russian troops also disarmed 18 explosive devices planted on main roads used by federal military convoys -- MOSCOW (AFP)
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