At least seven policemen were killed and 18 injured in an armed clash at a checkpoint on the administrative border between Ingushetia and Chechnya on Wednesday.

According to the information provided by the Chechen Interior Ministry, a Chechen police special task force (OMON) unit was returning to its base from a special operation and was met with intensive gunfire at the checkpoint.

Five Chechen policemen were killed and 11 were wounded in the clash. Law enforcement agencies in southern Russia said two policemen were killed and seven were wounded on the Ingush side.

The OMON servicemen had been taking part in a special operation against members of illegal armed units in Ingushetia.

The Interfax news agency said certain reports indicated that a militant had been detained in a special operation prior to the clash.

A convoy of three cars, which earlier entered Ingushetia from the Chechen side, was stopped at the checkpoint on its return.

Meanwhile, Chechen law enforcement sources said Chechen Interior Ministry's OMON Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff Buvadi Dukhiyev was badly wounded in the incident.

Dukhiyev was taken to hospital in a critical condition, the sources said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2006)