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Tajik president agrees to talks; rebels release 5 hostages
February 16, 1997
Web posted at: 12:43 p.m. EST (1243 GMT)DUSHANBE, Tajikistan (CNN) -- Tajik rebels released five of the 11 hostages they had been holding in their mountain stronghold after Tajik President Imomali Rakhmonov agreed to hold direct talks with the rebels.
Rakhmonov is scheduled to meet with rebel leader Bakhrom Sadirov on Monday at the village of Obigarm near the rebel base. They are expected to discuss release of the remaining hostages and possible safe passage for the rebels.
"Bakhrom said he was ready to negotiate directly with the president and the president readily accepted the proposal," said Tajik government spokesman Zafar Saidov. He also said Sadirov had assured the government he would not harm the hostages.
The rebels reportedly released two U.N. employees, two Russian journalists and a Tajik interpreter. The Tajik security minister, Saidamir Zukhorov, is among the six still held by the rebels.
Zukhorov is expected to attend Monday's meeting between Sadirov and Rakhmonov, Saidov said.
The Tajik government handed more than 30 rebel fighters to Sadirov on Saturday, part of a deal that was to have concluded with the release of the rebels' hostages. But Sadirov did not release the hostages and broke off contact with negotiators.
They resumed contact with Russian diplomat Gennady Sizov, serving as a mediator, who told Russian television that the hostages "are in a very, very bad shape."
Sadirov, leader of a rogue rebel group, began the crisis on February 4 when his followers seized a group of hostages and demanded the government allow the return of his brother Rizvon and about 40 of his men from Afghanistan. Rizvon has since joined his brother.
Sadirov kidnapped Zukhorov last weekend while trying to negotiate the release of the other hostages. The rebels released four of their hostages -- two Russian journalists, a driver, and an Austrian military observer -- earlier this week.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Tajik rebels keep hostages despite agreement - February 15, 1997
- Report: Rebel, hostage swap starts in Tajikistan - February 14, 1997
- Tajik rebels reportedly kill hostage - February 13, 1997
- Rebels take Tajik security minister hostage - February 8, 1997
- Tajik president, rebel leader sign peace accords - December 23, 1996
- U.N. observers taken hostage in Tajikistan - December 20, 1996
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