Rival Chechen factions clash
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About 18 people have died in one of the biggest battles between rival pro-Kremlin factions in the restive Russian republic of Chechnya, a witness said.
Russia has fought two wars against Chechen insurgents since 1994, but over the last few years has ceded local power to former enemy warlords and their fighters. The Kremlin has retrained and equipped thousands of former rebels, but tensions between the different forces remain high.
On Monday, soldiers loyal to Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov clashed with forces supporting former rebel commander Sulim Yamadayev in the town of Gudermes.
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