Russian defense minister suspends troop reduction in Chechnya

VLADIKAVKAZ, Russia -- Chechen rebels shot down a Russian military helicopter Sunday, killing nine soldiers, shortly after the defense minister announced he was suspending plans to cut back Moscow's force in the troubled province.

In the second such attack in less than a week, the Mi-8 helicopter, carrying three military crew and six troops, was hit as it lifted off from Russia's military headquarters in the southern republic. The Interfax news agency reported that all nine soldiers onboard were killed.

"I have made a decision to suspend the plans on cutting down troops in Chechnya," Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov told journalists in Khabarovsk in the Russian Far East.

Russian officials have repeatedly said that they have the situation under control in Chechnya. President Vladimir Putin rose to power with a promise to get tough on the Muslim separatists, but while Russia maintains a commanding force in the small southern republic, rebels continue to inflict daily casualties.

Last month's seizure of hundreds of hostages in a Moscow theater by armed Chechen rebels brought the war home to the Russian capital.

Ivanov did not provide details on how many troops are currently in Chechnya -- information considered a military secret by Russian authorities.

But he said that Russian forces in Chechnya are involved in "a large-scale, tough but targeted special operation" and are capable of acting throughout the republic.