Witnesses: Tajik troops open fire on protesters

[August 22, 2012]  DUSHANBE, Tajikistan (AP) -- Residents of a town in eastern Tajikistan rocked by unrest last month say government troops have opened fire on a crowd protesting the unexplained killing of an influential local leader.

Witnesses say hundreds gathered in front of Khorog regional headquarters Wednesday to demand an explanation for the overnight death of Imumnazar Imumnazarov, and that two people were reportedly wounded in the shooting.

Authorities declined to comment on what had happened.

Imumnazarov was a warlord during Tajkistan's civil war in the 1990s, and he was sought by authorities last month on charges including drug and tobacco smuggling.

Armed clashes in July between troops and armed groups in the mountainous region near Afghanistan's border left around 50 people dead. The groups surrendered hundreds of weapons as part of a ceasefire agreement.

[Associated Press; By OLGA TUTUBALINA]

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