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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Tajik blast kills one |
| 2007-11-15 |
| A strong blast shook a conference centre near Tajikistan’s presidential palace on Wednesday killing a security guard and scattering debris, just as a European Union-run conference was due to start. The blast, described as a terrorist act by the prosecutor general, occurred at the centre only 350 metres from President Emomali Rakhmon’s palace. Observers said it may have been timed to coincide with the 15th anniversary of Rakhmon becoming head of this Central Asian ex-Soviet state. The president had left Dushanbe a few minutes earlier for anniversary ceremonies in the north of the country. Police said the dead man was a guard who picked up the device concealed in a plastic bag while inspecting the site. The conference, which was organised by the European Union, was to be devoted to disaster preparedness. The EU’s ambassador in the region, Adriaan van der Meer, said there was no reason to believe the blast was aimed at the EU. “There is no indication whatsoever that it was against the EU.... We are waiting for exact news, and expect a thorough investigation,” he said. |
| Posted by:Fred |