Russian troops killed in Chechnya

MOSCOW, Russia -- Five Russian servicemen have been killed in Chechnya after their armoured vehicle struck a mine outside the capital Grozny.

The Interfax news agency reported on Saturday that the vehicle exploded just after passing a checkpoint. There were no further details.

According to official figures, more than 3,200 Russian troops and 12,700 rebels have been killed since Moscow launched its second post-Soviet campaign against separatists in October 1999.

Last month six Russian servicemen were killed and 15 wounded in one weekend.

Russian officials insist they have the republic almost under control, but militants continue to inflict daily casualties in hit-and-run attacks on the Russian army and with land mines.

Russian troops retreated from Chechnya after a 1994-1996 war.

Russian forces returned in 1999 after rebel incursions into neighboring Dagestan and apartment-house bombings in Russian cities blamed on Chechen rebels that killed more than 300 people.