MOSCOW – Russia said on Saturday it had killed nine militants who had beenplotting a terrorist act in the volatile Dagestan region in the south ofthe country.

Russia’s anti-terrorist committee said on its website it had receivedinformation that militants who planned to carry out an attack early nextmonth were hiding in Derbent, the second biggest city of theMuslim-majority republic of Dagestan.

Russian special forces detected two groups of militants in different partsof the city. The militants opened fire after being ordered to lay downtheir arms and were shot dead.

There were no casualties among civilians or special forces, it said.

Separately, Russia’s Federal Security Service said on its website it hadkilled an Islamic State militant in the neighboring Stavropol region. Themilitant had planned an attack on the regional government buildings.