A Russian policeman died in hospital of gunshot wounds to his chest during a shootout between law enforcers and unidentified assailants in the volatile North Caucus republic of Dagestan on Saturday.

Earlier on Saturday an identified explosive device went off near a railroad in the Kizlyarsky district of Dagestan. Shortly after the blast, a group of law enforcers, who arrived at the scene of the explosion, came under fire from unidentified gunmen.

"Doctors did all they could, however they were not able to save [the soldier]," a regional police spokesman said.

As a result of the blast, a crater two meters in diameter and 30 centimeters deep was created, six railroad ties were destroyed and approximately 3.5 meters of railroad were severely deformed.

Terrorist attacks and shootouts with police are common in Russia's troubled North Caucasus republics, especially in Dagestan and neighboring Chechnya and Ingushetia.

The Kremlin has vowed to clamp down on militant groups while stepping up efforts to boost the local economy.

MAKHACHKALA, November 27 (RIA Novosti)

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20101127/161522542.html