MOSCOW/CHERKESSK, May 15 (RIA Novosti) - The militants destroyed last night in the southern Russian administrative center of Cherkessk reported to Shamil Basayev, the Chechen terrorist mastermind, and Achimez Gachiyayev, the man wanted for 1999 attacks on living blocks in Moscow, the press service of the FSB department in Karachaevo-Cherkessia told RIA Novosti.

On Saturday, a group of well-armed militants were locked up in an apartment at 29 Ulitsa Khetagurova, uptown Cherkessk.

"Security officials tried to talk the militants into laying down arms but they would not respond, whereupon the place was stormed," the press service said.

Six insurgents, four of them men and two female suicide bombers, all long wanted for regional terrorist activity, were killed in the assault, security officials said. They have been identified, though the FSB declined to specify the names.

"About a kilogram of plastic explosives, around 200 microchips, and two ready-to-operate bombs have been found at the scene," security officials claimed and said local prosecutors have taken over the investigation.

A police source told RIA Novosti there were no casualties among police officers and local residents.