Money dispute kills 9 in Russia's Dagestan region

MAKHACHKALA, Russia, Sep 30 (Reuters) Nine people including a senior policeman today died in a gun attack triggered by a money dispute in the south Russia republic of Dagestan the Ministry of Interior Affairs said.

Unidentified gunmen opened fire on a car in the Dagestan village of Gonoda in the region's mountainous southwest. It was not immediately clear if all nine were in the car or some were nearby.

The clash came as one of the victims refused to pay back a substantial amount of borrowed money, the Ministry said.

Two wars with Chechnya since 1994 have scarred the entire north Caucasus region and violence has spilled over into its neighbours Dagestan and Ingushetia.

REUTERS SG PM1825