300 militants attack North Caucasus city, FSB suffers casualties

MOSCOW, October 13 (RIA Novosti) - According to preliminary information, about 300 suspected militants attacked the North Caucasus city of Nalchik, a local Federal Security Service (FSB) officer told RIA Novosti by telephone Thursday.

One FSB officer has been killed and seven wounded, the officer said, but the exact number of attackers has not been determined.

Gunmen attacked buildings of the local law-enforcement bodies, including the FSB.

"Law enforcement officers are trying to kill the militants entrenched near the [FSB] building," the officer said amidst gunshots in the background.

"The situation has basically been stabilized, no major combat is being waged," he said. "However, skirmishes, occasional shots, and short bursts can be heard here and there."

Dmitry Kozak, the Russian presidential envoy to the Southern Federal District, has arrived in the city.

Presidential press spokesman Alexei Gromov said Putin was being kept abreast of the measures being taken to kill the militants and restore order in the city.