WORLD BRIEFING / RUSSIA

A prominent opposition and rights activist in Russia’s southern province of Ingushetia was shot dead, at least the third killing in about three months of a human rights defender in the volatile North Caucasus.

Maksharip Aushev worked to publicize rights abuses and organize rallies against Ingushetia’s deeply unpopular former president, Murat Zyazikov -- activities that observers said made him a target.

Assailants in a passing car sprayed Aushev’s vehicle with automatic gun fire. A woman traveling with him was badly wounded in the attack, in the neighboring province of Kabardino-Balkariya, police said.

In July, Natalia Estemirova, a prominent human rights activist, was found slain in Ingushetia after being kidnapped in Chechnya. In August, Zarema Sadulayeva, a Chechen who helped injured children, and her husband were kidnapped and killed.