63 dead as Islamic rebels attack police

SCORES of Islamic militants yesterday launched simultaneous attacks on police and government buildings in Nalchik in Russia’s turbulent Caucasus region, sparking battles that killed at least 63 people.

Chechen rebels claimed responsibility for the attacks, which forced the evacuation of schools and left corpses on the streets of Nalchik, capital of the republic of Kabardino-Balkariya.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who came to power in 2000 by talking tough on Chechnya, ordered security forces to throw a ring of steel round the city of 235,000, and kill any gunman who resist.