&host=www.rt.com&uri=/news/tajikistan-criminals-escape-killed/&via=1.1 8.254.9.139:80 (Footprint 4.8/FPMCP)&ua=CCBot/1.0 (+http://www.commoncrawl.org/bot.html))
Over 20 Tajik soldiers killed in ambush
Published: 19 September, 2010, 21:31
Edited: 21 September, 2010, 16:21
TAGS: Crime, Central Asia
The Defense Ministry of Tajikistan has confirmed the death of 23 soldiers in a gunfight, and has called it a terrorist act.
Local media earlier reported 40 deaths, but the ministry has not confirmed the information.
“A Defense Ministry convoy came under terror attack in Kamarob Gorge of the Rasht district at 12:30 on September 19,” Tajik Defense Ministry spokesman Faridun Makhmadaliyev told Interfax news agency. “Twenty-three servicemen were killed, among them several Defense Ministry and National Guard officers.”
According to Makhmadaliyev, the attack was carried out by foreign mercenaries from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Chechnya, who are “using the holy religion of Islam as a cover for their plan to turn Tajikistan into an arena of internal wars.”
He also observed that those injured have been taken to hospital, some in critical condition. Faridun Makhmadaliyev added that the police are currently working at the scene of the attack and are taking measures to detain the group.
“I think the man behind the attack [Abdullo Rahimov – ed.] has links with Al-Qaeda, as he is based in Pakistan,” said Andrey Murtazin, a political analyst from RIA Novosti news agency, further suggesting that Rahimov may be involved with mercenaries from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia’s Republic of Chechnya.
The convoy was attacked during their search for prisoners who had escaped from a high security prison.
Last month, more than 20 people sentenced for their part in an attempted coup killed the jail's security guards and escaped into the mountains.
They were part of the Islamist opposition movement that fought against the central government in Tajikistan’s civil war in the 1990s.
19.09.2010, 08:41
3 comments
Russia, Norway end long-lasting border disputeRussia and Norway have made a final move in resolving their 40-year-old territorial dispute as President Medvedev met Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg for talks. |
20.09.2010, 08:22
Iraqi security forces on trial as US combat operation endsWhile US forces are withdrawing from Iraq, 36 people have just fallen victim to a recent triple car bombing in Baghdad, leading some to question whether the country is able to sustain stability and security on its own. |
NATO's willfull blindness to Afghanistan poppy fields, and apparent lack of interest in thousands of heroin labs, and thousands of tons of heroin being smuggled out of the country, to the estimated revenue of 60 billion dollars -- is showing results. Afghan drug money, as well as drugged, insane individuals, will be getting around Central Asia more and more. How easy it is to get out of the prison, when there is plenty of cash? How hard can it be to recruit hundreds, arm them and ambush the clueless soldiers --- if you have a lots of money. In Kyrgizstan's south, we saw recently similar episode. Up until now the "interim" government there, that is acting as if permanent, has failed to identify who committed those crimes. Eyewitnesses only know that even though they wore uniforms, these were individuals VERY high on drugs. So, now is Tajikistan's turn. The weak countries are going to be engulfed into mayham unless they take their participation in regional organizations seriously. The region brings them trade, energy and employment. If they succumb to violence, they will cease to be viable energy transit coutries, and viable trade partners. It seems they have some serious decisions to make.
Who trained the Mujahideen back in the 1980s against the soviets? None other than CIA, U.S Sponsored Jackals. Who are the real terrorists is the question? Afghanistan does Border Tajikistan, wonder why there are 150k of U.s Troops there? Hmmm.