Four Russian troops killed in Chechnya - Interfax

MOSCOW, Jan 29 (Reuters) Four Russian servicemen and one Chechen rebel were killed today in clashes in the southern region of Chechnya, media reported.

Interfax news agency said a group of Russian soldiers came under fire during a special operation against militants in a forest in Chechnya's Gudermes region.

The town of Gudermes is home to the headquarters of Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechnya's Moscow-backed prime minister and leader of a powerful personal militia force.

Russia has fought two wars against separatist fighters in Chechnya since 1994 but despite continued violence there it says it has regained control of the war-town region.

Reuters BDP KP1952