BOCHAROV RUCHEI (Sochi) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev urged the country's security forces to deal "an adequate blow" to the assassination attempt on Ingushetia's leader.

Yunus-bek Yevkurov, the president of Russia's North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia, received serious head and internal injuries on Monday when his motorcade was hit by an explosion believed to have been detonated by a suicide bomber. He was airlifted to Moscow after undergoing surgery in Ingushetia.

"I would like you to report to me what has been done and what we are going to do in the near future to deal a right response blow," Medvedev said at a meeting with the Russian Security Council members in his Black Sea residence on Saturday.

Yevkurov's spokesman said Saturday that the Ingush leader is showing small signs of improvement but remains in a coma.

"Small improvements are seen in the president, and overall he is stable. Doctors do not expect any sudden changes," press secretary Kaloi Akhilgov said by telephone, adding that Yevkurov had still not regained consciousness.