NAZRAN, Southern Russia — Seven Russian soldiers died in hit-and-run attacks by guerrillas in the rebel region of Chechnya, including four who died when their convoy was ambushed, an official said Sunday.

Thirteen soldiers were wounded when the convoy came under fire in the village of Zakan-Yurt west of the capital Grozny, said an official in the region's pro-Russian civilian administration.

One serviceman died in a mine explosion Saturday and two in the course of six attacks on Russian checkpoints and positions, the officials said.

Police removed two black rebel flags hung overnight on buildings in the town of Shali in the southern foothills.

Russian troops rolled into Chechnya in September 1999 to re-establish control lost during a 1994-96 war with independence fighters. Large-scale fighting has died down but small bands of rebels have continued to ambush Russian forces, inflicting daily casualties.