Russian troops resumed operations against Chechen fighters from Chechnya who are scattered through a forest in the neighbouring southern republic of Ingushetia, the scene of intense fighting the previous day. The troops kept up bombardments on Chechen fighter positions overnight and launched mopping-up operations at daybreak, Russian media quoted military sources as saying. "Helicopters located camp fires where the fighters were warming themselves. These were immediately bombarded," Interfax news agency quoted an official as saying.

NTV television said the Chechen fighters attempted unsuccessfully overnight to cross the mountains that separate Chechnya from Ingushetia.

Fierce fighting on Thursday forced hundreds of civilians to flee the Ingush village of Galashki, some 20 kilometres from the Chechen border, as Russian warplanes and artillery pounded the Chechen fighters .
The Russian attack caused many casualties, including civilians.

Among the dead was a British freelance television reporter, 31-year-old Roddy Scott.

It was the worst fighting in Ingushetia since the war in Chechnya erupted just three years ago.

Russian military sources said dozens of Chechen fighters were killed and that up 20 Russian soldiers died, including two crew members of an Mi-24 helicopter shot down at Galashki.

PHOTO CAPTION

Russian soldiers rest near an armored personnel carrier after heavy fighting with Chechen fighters near the village of Galashki, 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Nazran, in the Caucus republic of Ingushetia near the border with Chechnya, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2002. AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
- Sep 26 12:48 PM ET