Terrorists targeted the second highest government official in a bomb attack that killed the man's driver and wounded three others in the southern Russian town of Nazran. The official, Inguish Prime Minister Ibragim Malsagov, was wounded in the incident as were two others. The attack took place in the mostly Muslim region of Ingushetia. At least two bombs were detonated by the terrorists.
The incident took place as Mr. Malsagov drove through an open air market in Nazran according to a Kremlin spokesman. Malsagov was injured in the leg according to local officials. His injuries were not described as life threatening.
Ingushetia has faced a great deal of violence due to the separatist movement in neighboring Chechnya. Chechen rebels wish to form their own nation and break off from Russia. The Russian government considers the separatists terrorists.
The Russian news agency Interfax indicated that the two bombs exploded roughly 10 seconds apart and were located within 10-15 yards of each other.
Just a week ago, Nazran police chief Dzhabrail Kostoyev was wounded when a remote controlled land mine was detonated as his car passed. No group claimed responsibility for that attack or today's assassination attempt on Prime Minister Malsagov.
