A police officer was injured when unknown assailants attacked a police squad in the Russian North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, law enforcement agencies said.

"The incident occurred in the village of Mogilevka of the Khasavyurt District. One officer was hospitalized with numerous gunshot wounds," a spokesman said.

"A search for the attackers is underway," he said.

Sporadic terrorist attacks and militant clashes are common in Russia's southern mainly Muslim republics in the North Caucasus, especially Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia.

The Kremlin has pledged to wage "a ruthless fight" against militant groups but also acknowledged a need to tackle unemployment, organized crime, clan rivalry and corruption as causes of the ongoing violence in the region.

MAKHACHKALA, June 30 (RIA Novosti)