MOSCOW, February 1 (RIA Novosti) - A total of 174 militants were killed last year in the North Caucasus, and 1,171 were detained, a deputy Russian interior minister said Thursday.

Police Colonel General Arkady Yedelev said security agencies lost 239 officers, almost 100 fewer than in 2005, in regions of Russia where counter terrorist operations were conducted.

Yedelev said on January 23 that 554 militants had given themselves up in the Republic of Chechnya since announcement of an amnesty.

The partial amnesty for militants not involved in major atrocities during Russia's antiterrorism campaign in the North Caucasus was announced by Russian authorities July 15, 2006, following the killing of the region's most sought after terrorist, Shamil Basayev.

But the commander of Russia's Joint Forces in the North Caucasus, Colonel General Yevgeny Baryayev, earlier said about 700 gunmen still continued to operate in Chechnya and neighboring regions.