New Suicide Bomb Attacks Hit Russia's North Caucasus

A suicide bomber has killed at least two police officers and wounded three others in Russia's volatile North Caucasus region, a week after 50 people were killed in terrorist attacks across Russia.

In the latest attack, police say a man detonated explosives as he was trying to enter a police station in Karabulak, about 20 kilometers from the Republic of Ingushetia's regional capital of Magas. Police say two officers were killed instantly.

Less than an hour later, officials say, a bomb exploded in a car parked outside the same police station. Police say only the suicide bomber was killed in that blast.

The deadly attacks follow a wave of suicide bombings last week across Russia. On Monday, at least 40 people were killed and dozens more injured after dual suicide bombings on Moscow's metro system. Two days later, twin suicide bombings killed 12 people in Dagestan, in the North Caucasus region. On Sunday, a bomb derailed a freight train in Dagestan. Officials believe the attacks could be linked.

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev denounced the attacks at an emergency meeting with security forces last week.

He said the goal of the terrorists is to destabilize the country, destroy civil society and sow fear and panic among the population. Mr. Medvedev said the government will not permit this and will keep the country together.

Islamist Chechen rebels claimed responsibility for last Monday's dual bombings in Moscow. Leaders say the attacks are revenge for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's political polices in the mainly Muslim North Caucasus.

Russian officials say one of the Moscow bombers was the 17-year-old Dagestani-born widow of an Islamist separatist killed last December by Russian forces. A father in Dagestan told the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta that he believes his daughter is the other suicide bomber, based on photographs.

Many analysts describe the near daily attacks on local officials and police in the country's southern flank as a civil war between Kremlin-backed administrations in Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia and Islamist separatists in the region.

Chechen-rebel leader Doku Umarov is promising more attacks throughout Russia as President Medvedev vows tougher legislation to prevent terrorism.