GROZNY, October 23 (RIA Novosti) - Police in Chechnya have killed a militant who planned an assassination attempt against the president of the southern Russian republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, a police spokesman said on Friday.

"In a private residence in Michurin village in Grozny a so called emir of Gudermes [Said-Emi] Khizriev was surrounded. Police made an attempt to arrest him, but he put up armed resistance and was killed with when fire was returned," the spokesman said.

According to the police, Khazriev planned and took part in explosions at two gas stations in Gudermes in the spring of this year, as well as in an armed attack at a sport club in the city.

Russia's North Caucasus republics, in particular Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia, have seen frequent attacks on police and officials this year despite the end of a decade-long special regime for counterterrorism operations in Chechnya six months ago.