Fighting erupted in two Russian republics of Ingushetia and Dagestan bordering breakaway Chechnya, Russian news agencies reported early Tuesday.  

"Fighters have entered Nazran (the capital of Ingushetia), Karabulak and Sleptsovsk," Russia's Interfax reported, quoting government officials.

Fighting also broke out in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, it said.

Several fighters and civilians have been killed in the fighting, it added.

(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2004)