Moscow (ANTARA News/Reuters) - Russian security forces on Monday killed an Islamist militant leader who masterminded attacks in the North Caucasus and threatened Moscow, federal authorities said.

A decade after federal forces drove a separatist government from power in Chechnya, Moscow is fighting Islamist insurgents seeking to create an independent state in Russia`s mostly Muslim North Caucasus.

Russian news agencies quoted the National Anti-terror Committee (NAK) as saying security forces shot dead Israpil Validzhanov and three companions early on Monday in Dagestan, the violence-plagued province east of Chechnya. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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