MOSCOW, Jan 18: Five Russian soldiers were killed and 13 wounded on Friday when an explosive device went off beside the truck they were travelling in in Makhachkala, capital of the Russian republic of Dagestan, which neighbours Chechnya, Russian news agencies reported.

Two of the wounded were in critical condition, according to medical services quoted by the Ria Novosti agency.

The device, which had been left at the side of the road, exploded at around 8pm local time as the vehicle was passing, according to the local office of the interior ministry.—AFP