MOSCOW, Aug. 31 (Xinhuanet) -- Four militants and two police officers were killed Wednesday when Russian forces attacked a rebel hideout in the breakaway Russian republic of Chechnya, Itar-Tass news agency reported.

    Police seized a house in Novoterskoye in northern Chechnya early in the morning and exchanged fire with the militants inside, the report said, citing Interior Ministry sources.

    Two police officers died while four suspected separatists were killed, the report said.

    Russian forces had also discovered a shoulder-held anti-air missile launcher and high-caliber machine guns in the Chechen capital of Grozny, according to the report.

    It said the rebels were storing these weapons for terrorist attacks on helicopters of the Russian forces in the North Caucasusas well as on Chechen leaders. Enditem