Four killed in Dagestan gun battle

Four men have been shot dead after opening fire on police officers in the volatile southern Russian province of Dagestan.

Dagestan Interior Ministry spokesman Vyacheslav Gasanov said the incident last night was sparked by the driver of the vehicle carrying the men failing to heed a police request to stop.

Mr Gasanov said no police officers were injured in the clash.

The Caspian Sea province has become the epicentre of an Islamic insurgency that has spread across the region after two separatist wars in Chechnya.

Shootings, bombings and police security raids occur on a daily basis in Dagestan, which borders Chechnya to the east.

The bulk of attacks in Dagestan are on government forces.