MOSCOW, Dec. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Four government officers were killed early Tuesday in an armed attack on the department of Federal Drug Control Service in Nalchik, capital of the North Caucasus republic of Kabardino-Balkaria in southern Russia.

    "A group of unidentified gunmen attacked the officers on duty at the department. All four officers died in the attack," a spokesman for the Kabardino-Balkaria Interior Ministry told local media.

    The attackers also stole 36 Kalashnikov assault rifles, 136 handguns and great quantity of ammunition, reports said.

    An unnamed regional security service officer was quoted as saying that the attackers could be members of a group loyal to Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev. Enditem