MOSCOW -- Four gunmen were killed in a special operation Wednesday in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, said a spokesman for the National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC).

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At around 07:20 am Moscow time (0420 GMT), the militants were blocked inside a storehouse in the Khasavyurt city by security and police forces. Intense clashes broke out when the gunmen attempted a breakthrough, all of whom ended up dead. The identities of the militants were being established.

Three police officers were wounded in the shootout.

On Tuesday, the NAC said another two militants killed in the republic of Dagestan may have been members of a local subversive-terrorist group.

Violence is common for Russia's North Caucasus republics of Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia with militants frequently assaulting police officers and authorities.

Moscow has vowed to bring stability to the region by improving social services, raising pensions and salaries as a measure to tackle corruption and terrorism infiltration.