From: Abraham Rein (ARein@sorosny.org)
Date: Tue Aug 29 2000 - 13:50:52 EDT
MINISTER DENIES UZBEK MILITANTS IN TAJIKISTAN. At a press
conference in Dushanbe on 28 August, Tajikistan's Minister
for Emergency Situations Mirzo Ziyoev denied that members of
the banned Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan operate from bases
in Tajikistan, Reuters and Asia Plus-Blitz reported. Ziyoev
said a Tajik government commission recently visited the
eastern regions of Tajikistan bordering on Uzbekistan and
ascertained that there are no militants' bases there. Ziyoev
also rejected as untrue Russian press allegations that
members of the United Tajik Opposition (UTO) are abetting the
Islamists. He said such claims are intended to undermine
Tajik-Russian relations. Ziyoev, who is a former UTO field
commander, has been identified as one of the key figures
supporting the Uzbek militants. Ziyoev admitted that he met
in April with one of the IMU leaders, Djuma Namangani but
added that Namangani left Tajikistan shortly after that
meeting (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 26 April and 5 May 2000). LF
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