Blast in Russia's Chechnya kills at least five

MOSCOW, Feb 23 (Reuters) A blast in Russia's southern republic of Chechnya killed at least five policemen today, Interfax news agency reported, citing an unidentified law enforcement source.

The blast rocked an Interior Ministry base in the Gudermes region of Chechnya, the agency reported. Interfax gave no further details.

Russian leaders say Chechnya, where Russia has fought two wars since 1994, is a stable province undergoing reconstruction.

But Chechen separatists, many of whom say they are fighting in the name of Islam, are able to launch attacks on Russian forces from their mountain hideouts.

REUTERS BDP ND1812