An attempt to destroy a Russian government building in Chechnya narrowly failed after a rebel bomber blew himself up while planting the explosive, news agencies cited the Russian interior ministry saying Thursday.
The body of the separatist rebel, was discovered by police in a 25-meter (yard) tunnel in the basement of a house next to the ministry's internal affairs office in Chechnya's second city Gudermes.
Six other rebel attacks were foiled by Russian troops over the past 24 hours, while six rebels were killed and four federal soldiers wounded in armed clashes, official sources said.
However, draconian security restrictions imposed throughout the breakaway republic over the New Year holiday have now been lifted, and all Chechnya's frontiers with neighboring Russian republics have been reopened, the pro-Moscow military prosecutor said.
Russia has been fighting a 15-month war against Islamic rebels in Chechnya since launching a self-styled "anti-terrorist" operation in the strife-torn republic on October 1, 1999 -- MOSCOW (AFP)
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