MAKHACHKALA. July 16 (Interfax) - The Operational Headquarters in Dagestan imposed a counterterrorist operation regime on the Kayakent district at noon on Saturday, a headquarters spokesman told Interfax.
"The counterterrorist operation regime has been imposed due to a combat operation under way in the district," he said.
A law enforcement source told Interfax earlier that seven men suspected of belonging to illegal armed groups had been killed in a series of clashes with security forces, which started in the early hours of Saturday and were still in progress in the Kayakent and Sergokala districts of Dagestan.
The first exchange of fire took place on a road between Sergokala and Izberbash at about midnight. More armed clashes occurred in nearby forests and vineyards as security forces were chasing the gunmen.
Another source had told Interfax earlier that an exchange of fire with gunmen took place near the village of Utamysh at about 9:30 a.m. Moscow time.