Russia launches aerial assault across Chechnya

Russian forces have launched an aerial assault against Chechen rebels across the breakaway province.

Russian bombers and helicopters were involved in the attack.

It comes as the Kremlin strongly criticised statements by Washington accusing Russian forces of human rights abuses in its crackdown on separatists.

Aircraft bombed the Itum-Kale and Nozhai-Yurt regions and helicopters struck the Vedeno region, an official in the pro-Moscow Chechen administration said.

Five federal soldiers and police officers were killed and five wounded in fighting or mine explosions, the official said.

More than 100 suspects were detained in special operations that continued in Shali, Nozhai-Yurt and Shelkovsky regions.

US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Russian operations in Chechnya indicated a continuation of human rights violations and the use of overwhelming force against civilian targets.

He also said Moscow had failed to pursue contacts with Chechen separatists to reach a peaceful settlement to the conflict.

In a statement by the Kremlin, Moscow rejected Boucher's remarks and said it regretted the tone of his statement, equating its campaign in Chechnya with the US-led coalition against terrorism.

"Our experience in Chechnya and America's experience in Afghanistan show how hard it is sometimes to reach terrorists and to prevent any harm on civilians. Nevertheless, that is the goal of Russia and the United States," the Kremlin said.