Seven Russian servicemen died and at least 10 were wounded in fighting in Chechnya over the past 24 hours , an official in Chechnya's pro-Moscow administration said on Saturday. Russian officials in Moscow said on Saturday that the search for an American citizen taken hostage earlier this week had not yielded positive results and he was unlikely to be released soon.

Chechen rebels attacked Russian positions and checkpoints 22 times over the past day, including two clashes in the capital Grozny, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Four interior ministry troops were killed in one of the Grozny clashes, which lasted 30 minutes, the official said. Two other soldiers were killed and six were wounded in other attacks on Russian positions in Chechnya, he said.
In the southern Vedeno district, one soldier was killed and four were wounded when their armored personnel carrier hit a land mine, the official said. Officials in Moscow were pessimistic over the chances for the quick release of Kenny Gluck, a worker with the aid group doctors without borders who was seized on Tuesday.
“There is not much chance for a speedy release,” Vladimir Kalamanov, the presidential human rights envoy to Chechnya, told the Itar-Tass news agency. He said that there was no information about why Gluck was kidnapped, and his whereabouts were unknown and that no ransom demand had been made. But Akhmad Kadyrov, the Kremlin-appointed head of the Chechen civil administration, said on Saturday he believes Gluck would be freed.
Bureau Report