DUSHANBE (Sputnik) — At least 33 police officers and soldiers as well as nine attackers were killed Friday in clashes between government forces and an armed gang in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, and the nearby town of Vahdat, a source in the Tajik Defense Ministry said.
4 September 2015, 15:58 GMT
Earlier reports said at least 17 policemen and soldiers were killed in two attacks on government buildings.
The gang is allegedly headed by former deputy defense minister Abduhalim Nazarzoda, whom Tajik President Emomali Rahmon fired for unspecified crimes earlier in the day, and consists of 135 soldiers from an air assault brigade loyal to Nazarzoda.
The personnel of Russia's 102nd military base in Tajikistan has been put on high alert following the clashes in the capital.
