TAJIK GOVERNMENT "COMPLETES" ANTI-SODIROV OPERATION.

Maj. Gen. Gafar Mirzoyev announced today that his Presidential Guard has completed without losses an operation to "neutralize" part of the Sodirov brothers’ detachment in the Garm area, some 85 kilometers east of Dushanbe. An Opposition force has sustained losses while fighting the main part of the Sodirovs’ detachment closer to Dushanbe in recent days. (Itar-Tass, February 26-27) Government and Opposition signed a joint statement last week pledging to resist "terrorist" groups that jeopardize peace efforts. (See Central Asia section below)

Speculation over Upcoming Changes in Russian Government.