Tajikistan: Dead Militants Were Russian Citizens

Five militants killed during a recent firefight in Tajikistan's turbulent Rasht Valley were Russian citizens, according to local news reports.

The men killed during a July 16 attack on a police outpost were aged between 21 and 27, a source from the Interior Ministry told the CA-News.org news agency. Four of the alleged militants had apparently been living in St. Petersburg, Russia, the fifth was from Dagestan.

They traveled to Tajikistan to join the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the source claimed. "Operations to dispose of the remaining members of the enemy group are now in progress," the source added.

Government forces recovered Kalashnikov rifles and ammunition from the scene of the attack.