Moscow - Three Russian soldiers have been killed Chechnya in an attack less a week after the official end of the Russian military deployment, according to news agency Interfax on Wednesday.

The men, aged 24 and 35, died when their vehicle came under fire, whilst the two assailants reportedly escaped.

Following two wars, the Russian secret service, on the orders of President Dmitri Medvedev, lifted Chechnya's status as an "anti- terror zone" on April 16.

Experts warned, however, that the situation was still far from secure and that Islamist terror groups were still planning terrorist attacks in the North Caucasus region.

Pro-Moscow Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov said that the end of the military deployment would aid the economic development of the region. (dpa)