SECURITY SITUATION NEAR DUSHANBE IMPROVES.

The Tajik government announced yesterday some significant headway in suppressing insubordinate armed groups near the capital Dushanbe. Government forces killed Commander Saidmuhtor Iorov and several of his fighters, and claimed to be in hot pursuit of a second detachment. Both groups had been active for the last two years on the eastern outskirts of Dushanbe, occasionally raiding the city itself. They did not form part of the United Opposition forces, refused to comply with the disarmament provisions of the 1997 pacification agreement and did not accept the 1998 offer of amnesty in return for surrender. They acted with impunity ever since, exposing the ineffectiveness of government forces. Yesterday’s announcement stopped short of claiming that the groups had been conclusively knocked out of action (AFP, Itar-Tass, January 25).

Correction: The January 25, 1999 Monitor incorrectly stated that Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov was named to his post last August. In fact, Primakov was appointed Prime Minister in September.

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