KHOROG, January 29, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- One serviceman was killed on January 26 as armored personnel carrier (APC) of the Ministry of Defense (MoD) fell in to the Panj River in the Darvoz district, Gorno Badakhshan.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Idibek Vatanov, an officer with the Darvoz police directorate, said the accident took place in the Kufob area Monday evening.

According to him, a group of the MoD vehicles ware traveling in convoy as the APC driven by Senior Lieutenant Ulughbek Ghoibov fell into the Panj River.  Senior Lieutenant Ghoibov died; his body has not yet been found.  The cause of the accident is under investigation.