Police in the southern Russian republic of Chechnya have reportedly rounded up more than 100 men suspected of homosexuality and at least three have been killed, a respected newspaper says.

Russian authorities have detained two suspects over the killing of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, it was claimed today, although her newspaper dismissed the report as “absolutely wrong".

At least nine Russian soldiers camped out in a former poultry farm near the Chechen capital were killed when a concrete wall collapsed on them during a clash with Chechen rebels, military officials said today.

Heavy fighting between Russian troops and rebels has persisted for the fourth straight day outside a village in Chechnya.