Moscow: Five policemen were killed and two injured in a bomb explosion in Chechnya, Interfax news agency reported on Monday.

No has claimed responsibility for Sunday's attack in the suburb of the Chechen capital Grozny.

On Saturday, a group of 25 suspected Islamic militants clashed with police in Chechnya's southern district of Urus-Martan, killing two police officers.

Chechnya saw two separatist wars, in 1994 and 1999, and though major fighting has ended, the region is still plagued by violence, including hit-and-run raids on federal forces and local authorities.

The Kremlin has made a surge in security operations against separatist rebels cells in Chechnya and invested millions of dollars into rebuilding the souther Russian region.

Violence has also spilled over into the neighbouring North Caucasus republics with increased bombings and armed clashes in Ingushetia and Dagestan.

Source : IANS