A joint military exercise of Russia's police, army and security forces began in the southern Russian republic of Dagestan on Wednesday, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

The exercise, held in the Arkabash area close to the administrative border with Chechnya, is designed to enhance the coordination among different forces in operations against terrorists, the report said, citing Colonel Abdulmanap Musayev, spokesman for the Dagestan Interior Ministry.

These forces will simulate "repulse of an attack on a checkpoint," release of hostages captured by terrorists along with action in some other specified circumstances, Musayev said.

The participants of the exercise include Russia's Interior Ministry troops, units of the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Ministry for Emergency Situations, the troops deployed in Dagestan and the staff of prosecutor offices, according to Musayev.

A similar military exercise will be held later this week near Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, said the report.

Source: Xinhua