Fighting Renewed on Edge of Tajik Capital
May 2, 1998 - 0:0
DUSHANBE Fresh fighting broke out on Friday between Tajikistan's Islamist opposition and government forces on the outskirts of the capital, Dushanbe. The army, responding with tanks to machine guns and grenades, gave the opposition forces an ultimatum to return to their bases by noon (0700 GMT) but as the deadline passed it was not clear whether it had been heeded or what would happen if it were not.
It was the third day of fighting in the latest clashes to disturb a fragile 10-month-old peace between the former Soviet republic's government and the Islamists. The exchanges of fire, including the heavy tank rounds, were audible in the center of the city. A Tajik Army spokesman said: Firing resumed with new force early in the morning. Other army sources said the fighting was concentrated nine km (five miles) from central Dushanbe. Fighting moved into suburbs of Dushanbe on Thursday after erupting late on Wednesday near Kofarnikhon region, some 25 km (16 miles) from Dushanbe. Both sides declined to update casualty figures.
According to early official estimates on Thursday, three government soldiers had been killed along with one opposition fighter. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that opposition field commanders had attacked two government posts after drafting new recruits and that the peace process was in jeopardy since opposition leaders were unable to control some of their forces on the ground.
There are casualties on both sides, including among civilians, as a result of the clash, it said. A civil war that broke in the mountainous Central Asian state following the collapse of the Soviet Union claimed tens of thousands of lives and made many others homeless. Russia, concerned about instability in Tajikistan and neighboring Afghanistan spreading closer to its frontiers, keeps thousands of peacekeeping troops and border guards in the country but they have not intervened in recent clashes.
Both sides signed an internationally brokered peace agreement last July to formally end the war and build peace together. First Deputy Prime Minister Akbar Turadzhozoda, who represents the opposition in a coalition government set up to promote national reconciliation, has talked to the fighters in the latest clash. The Foreign Ministry said the opposition had promised to withdraw but had not kept their word.
(Reuter)
It was the third day of fighting in the latest clashes to disturb a fragile 10-month-old peace between the former Soviet republic's government and the Islamists. The exchanges of fire, including the heavy tank rounds, were audible in the center of the city. A Tajik Army spokesman said: Firing resumed with new force early in the morning. Other army sources said the fighting was concentrated nine km (five miles) from central Dushanbe. Fighting moved into suburbs of Dushanbe on Thursday after erupting late on Wednesday near Kofarnikhon region, some 25 km (16 miles) from Dushanbe. Both sides declined to update casualty figures.
According to early official estimates on Thursday, three government soldiers had been killed along with one opposition fighter. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that opposition field commanders had attacked two government posts after drafting new recruits and that the peace process was in jeopardy since opposition leaders were unable to control some of their forces on the ground.
There are casualties on both sides, including among civilians, as a result of the clash, it said. A civil war that broke in the mountainous Central Asian state following the collapse of the Soviet Union claimed tens of thousands of lives and made many others homeless. Russia, concerned about instability in Tajikistan and neighboring Afghanistan spreading closer to its frontiers, keeps thousands of peacekeeping troops and border guards in the country but they have not intervened in recent clashes.
Both sides signed an internationally brokered peace agreement last July to formally end the war and build peace together. First Deputy Prime Minister Akbar Turadzhozoda, who represents the opposition in a coalition government set up to promote national reconciliation, has talked to the fighters in the latest clash. The Foreign Ministry said the opposition had promised to withdraw but had not kept their word.
(Reuter)