The incident occurred just five days after the village signed a pact with Russian forces, agreeing to clear out separatist fighters.

During the First Chechen War, 4,000 separatist fighters and 40,000 civilians are estimated to have died, giving a civilian-combatant ratio of 10:1.

After several months, he was removed by separatist fighters.

At least five separatist fighters were also killed and two went missing in the fighting.

Turkish security forces were increasingly involved in clashes with Kurdish separatist fighters.

Islamic groups operate in the area, often in collaboration with Chechen separatist fighters and terrorists.

During his career as a commander in Chechnya he gained notoriety after advocating public executions of separatist fighters.

The number of separatist fighters is estimated at several hundred to a couple thousand.

Mines in that area, a former stronghold of the Kosovo Liberation Army, are believed to have been planted by the separatist fighters.

Years of attacks and repression followed in a climate of brutality on the part of both separatist fighters and Russian forces.