President Dmitry Medvedev urged the authorities of the Russian republic of Karachai-Circassia to fight gangs toughly but calmly.

"[You] need to sort things out quietly and, without hysteria, make tough decisions to uproot bandit manifestations," the Russian president said at a meeting with the republic's leadership on Saturday, adding that the situation in the region was "far from simple."

Medvedev also called to "socialize people ready to start a normal life."

Russia's mainly Muslim North Caucasus republics, especially Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia, have seen an upsurge of militant violence lately, with frequent attacks on police and officials.

The Kremlin has pledged to wage "a ruthless fight" against militant groups but also acknowledged a need to tackle unemployment, organized crime, clan rivalry and corruption as causes of the ongoing violence.

Moscow announced an end to its decade-long antiterrorism campaign against separatists in Chechnya in April 2009, but has since had to step up the fight against militants as skirmishes and attacks on police and other officials have continued.

CHERKESSK, February 27 (RIA Novosti)