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Russian city quiet after battles

The city of Nalchik, in the Russian Caucasus, tried to return back to as normal a pace of life as possible following a week of street battles between Russian security forces and Chechen rebels attacking the city. ",It is bad that such bandit raids are still possible here in Russia,", Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday. ",It`s a great tragedy that we are sustaining losses among law enforcement officers and peaceful civilians.",

Nalchik is the capital of the Kabardino-Balkariya republic, near Chechnya. Chechnya has been the site of major battles between Chechen separatists and Russian troops over much of the past decade, and the recent violence spreading into nearby republics in the Russian Caucasus is seen by observers as being a sign of growing instability in that region and cause for worry for Russia and neigboring countries.

As of the latest reports, 128 people were killed as a result of the fighting, including 24 Russian police officers, between 12 and 18 civilians, and 92 Chechen militants - according to figures released by the Russian government.