MOSCOW, May 18: Chechen fighters killed eight Russian soldiers and four pro-Moscow police in a double ambush in the restive province, security officials said on Tuesday.

The rebels attacked the policemen when their vehicle hit a mine near the town of Urus-Martan on Monday, a Chechen police spokesman said by telephone.

An armoured troop carrier with eight interior ministry troops went to their aid, but ran into another mine and also came under fire from the rebels. In Moscow, a spokesman for interior ministry confirmed eight Russian servicemen had been killed in the ambush but he had no word on Chechen police casualties.

The Chechen police spokesman said seven people were wounded in the clash, but could not specify whether they were Russians or Chechens. In 2000 Russian troops ended a short-lived independence for Chechnya. -Reuters