AZERBAIJAN

. Azerbaijani president Heydar Aliyev escaped another assassination attempt after the country’s Internal Affairs Ministry arrested the conspirators. They were planning to shoot down Aliyev’s plane with a Strela portable anti-aircraft missile when the president was returning from a foreign trip. This is the second reported plot against Aliyev’s life in less than three months. The previous plot involved a sophisticated time bomb placed in the way of the presidential motorcade. The authorities have in both cases incriminated former military and police officers associated with former Azerbaijani Communist Party leader Ayza Mutalibov, who is accused of masterminding these actions from his haven in Moscow. (16)

In the last 13 months, Aliyev has also survived two attempted coups d’etat by police elements said to favor Mutalibov. Aliyev has skillfully succeeded in disarming opposition forces. On November 12, the country is holding presidential and parliamentary elections, which Aliyev and his Yeni Azerbaijan movement are widely expected to win.

1. Interfax, Radio-1, Russian TV, "Moscow’s Echo" Radio, November 7

2. Reuter and Interfax, November 7

3. Interfax, November 4

4. Reuter, November 7

5. Interfax, November 3

6. Interfax, November 3

7. Itar-Tass, November 4

8. The Ukrainian Weekly, No. 45, November 5, 1995

9. Nezavisimaya gazeta, November 4

10. BNS, November 7

11. Basapress and Flux, November 6

12. Financial Information Agency, November 4

13. Petroleum Information Agency, November 3

14. Interfax and NTV, November 2 and 5

15. Interfax, November 3 and 4

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