MOSCOW, Jan. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Two police and five rebels were killed on Tuesday during a police raid to pin down armed rebels inthe southern Russian region of Dagestan, the regional Interior Ministry said.

    Armed helicopters of the Russian air force carried out airstrikes against the rebel hideout in the Untsukul district in Dagestan. Ground forces also shelled the hideout.

    Two police were killed and five more wounded during subsequent operations to subdue the remaining militants. Five rebels were killed in the raid.

    The operation was suspended for the night and is expected to continue at dawn Wednesday, police said.

    Dagestan is a volatile region that borders war-wrecked Chechnya, where Russian forces are battling separatist rebels. Enditem