Gunmen Attack Police, Poll Sites in Chechnya

Gunmen attacked a police station and polling sites in the Chechen capital, Grozny, killing several people eight days before a special election to replace the region’s assassinated president, Russian news agencies said.

There were conflicting casualty reports. Interfax news agency said 10 to 15 people -- civilians, police officers and the gunmen -- had died. Itar-Tass news agency reported that two officers had been killed and six civilians wounded.

Chechnya, ravaged by a separatist struggle for nearly a decade, is scheduled to hold an election Aug. 29 to replace President Akhmad Kadyrov, who was killed in a May bombing attack.