One of the four men killed in a battle with Russian police on the Chechen-Ingush border was the younger brother of a rebel leader, authorities said.

The operation was carried out jointly by police from the two republics, Itar-Tass reported.

Azamat Makhauri, one of the dead, was the younger brother of Rustaman Makhauri. Rustaman was detained recently in another operation on the border.

Violence has been common in Russia's North Caucasus region since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Both Chechnya and Ingushetia have militant independence movements.

Rustaman Makhauri was the defense minister of Ichkeria, the name adopted by Chechen separatists.