MOSCOW, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Russian military forces killed at least four rebels on Saturday during a special operation in the turbulent region of Ingushetia near Chechnya, media reported.

Interfax news agency quoted the interior ministry as saying troops briefly fought a group of militants holed up in a flat in the town of Malgobek in the northwestern part of Ingushetia.

"Four militants were killed during a shootout during which militants opened fire on interior ministry forces," a regional interior ministry spokesman told Interfax.

The official said one serviceman was injured during the operation, adding there no casualties among civilians.

Shootouts and violence are commonplace in Ingushetia, a Muslim region home to a population ethnically close to Chechens. Russia believes insurgents linked to Chechen separatists are hiding in the region.

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