MAKHACHKALA. July 16 (Interfax) - Up to seven suspected gunmen have been killed in an exchange of fire with security forces near the village of Utamysh near an administrative border between the Kayakent and Sergokala districts of Dagestan, and one soldier also died in the clash, an operational headquarters for Dagestan told Interfax.
The group of militants was surrounded after security services received an intelligence report indicating there whereabouts.
"When the group was being blockaded, an exchange of fire occurred. One Interior Forces serviceman was killed, another sustained a gunshot wound and two others tangential wounds. Up to seven gunmen have been killed. Five bodies have already been removed, and there have been reports about two more," it said.
The National Antiterrorist Committee will later report more details about the incident, it said.