Four militants killed in Ingushetia shoot-out

Special forces have reportedly shot dead up to four militants in the southern Russian republic of Ingushetia.

The group had barricaded themselves inside a house in the city of Karabulak after it was surrounded by the military.

Police say the militants opened fire after they refused to surrender. In the subsequent shoot-out all of them were killed.

Police have yet to confirm their identities, but say the men could be linked to the murder of a policeman from the republic's anti-terrorist department. He was shot dead two days ago while riding a bicycle in the capital, Nazran.

Two detained in connection with fatal bus blast

In an unrelated incident, two people from the southern Russian republic of Ingushetia have been detained in connection with an explosion last year in the Stavropol region.

An explosive device went off on a bus in the city of Nevinnomyssk on December 9, killing two passengers.

Most of the passengers had left the bus just before the blast. The two who remained on board were killed. They've been named as 17-year-old Elena Tarasova and 22-year-old Susanna Gazoryan.  

The authorities are also searching for a third suspect in connection with the attack.