Car bomb kills 3 police officers in Russia’s ChechnyaSeptember 16, 2013 - 14:34 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A car bomb killed three police officers and injured four others Monday, Sept 16, in an attack on a local Interior Ministry branch in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Chechnya on Monday, the ministry said. The attacker drove a Russian Lada at high speed toward the main gates of an Interior Ministry compound. After an on-duty officer raised a protective barrier in the road, the bomber blew up the car, the ministry said in a statement, according to RIA Novosti. The bomb had an explosive force equivalent to about 60 kilograms of TNT, the investigative committee cited experts as saying, and left a three-meter-wide crater in the road. In a separate incident, police detained a man wearing a suicide vest and carrying a gun at a police station in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia on Monday morning, a regional police representative told RIA Novosti. The spokesman added that the man has been identified, detained and disarmed, but did not give further details as to his identity. The two neighboring districts have the same name but are considered separate parts of their respective regions. Attacks on security forces, police and civilians occur regularly in the North Caucasus, generated by ethnic, religious and political rivalries, as well as poverty and corruption. The violence is also fed by an Islamist insurgency, which has been especially resilient in Dagestan and fueled a series of bloody post-Soviet wars in the neighboring republic of Chechnya. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Pasadena to host Armenian Genocide commemoration event The Pasadena Armenian Coalition will host its community-wide Armenian Genocide Commemorative Event. Armenia: Opposition activist transferred to Investigative Committee Activist Samvel Vardanyan has been accused of insulting the lawmaker Hakob Aslanyan from the ruling Civil Contract party. Former Pashinyan envoy urges end to Genocide speculation Marukyan has urged authorities in Armenia stop discussions about verifying the names of 1.5 million victims. Azerbaijan, Jordan sign deal on defense cooperation Azerbaijan and Jordan have signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of defense, according to an official statement. |