Firefights occur almost daily between the estimated 80,000 troops and a mixture of independence fighters and Islamic radicals.
Earlier today, the Supreme Court of Russia's southern republic of Ingushetia sentenced four Chechens to 17 years in prison over a deadly raid nearly two years ago.
The four men were found guilty last week of involvement in the June 2004 raid when a group of armed men led by Chechen separatist commander Shamil Basayev attacked police and government targets in Ingushetia. The raid left 79 people dead and another 104 injured.
(compiled from agency reports)