Russian aircraft target rebels

Moscow - Russian aircraft carried out 10 raids against rebel targets in Chechnya in the last 24 hours and small-scale clashes…

Moscow - Russian aircraft carried out 10 raids against rebel targets in Chechnya in the last 24 hours and small-scale clashes flared throughout the region, the military said yesterday.

The separatist republic remained restless following a bombing in Moscow on Tuesday which killed eight people, a blast linked by many Russians to the conflict.

President Putin has warned against launching a witch-hunt against Chechens after the blast but said the campaign in the region had to be pursued so that what he called "terrorists" could be destroyed.

Russian army officials said a total of 30 guerrillas were killed and six rebel positions destroyed.