Chechen protesters said up to four people were killed and a dozen more wounded by Russian troops or Russian-backed police Saturday, as a separatist protest closed its seventh day.
About a thousand people continued to rally in front of the gutted presidential palace, demanding that Russian troops leave the secessionist republic.On Saturday, reports said police pushed back a crowd of demonstrators trying to reach the square. When Chechen police opened fire, a woman and a boy were killed, witnesses said.
"I was trying to get to the demonstration. We were near the bazaar and the Chechen police opened fire, killing a woman," said 35-year-old Birlan Tokayeva.
Chechens who left the demonstration said a man and woman were killed on the square, and as many as 13 people were wounded. They gave no details.