DUSHANBE, August 6, 2012, Asia-Plus  --  The process of voluntary surrender of weapons is continuing in Khorog, the capital of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, with militants handing over amore than 500 firearms over the past eight days, Mahmadullo Asadulloyev, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior (MoI), told Asia-Plus today morning.

According to him, the latest arms surrender action took place in Khorog on August 5.  “The militants are mostly laying down assault rifles Kalashnikov, grenade launchers, shells and other ammunition,” Asadulloyev said.

He noted that representatives of local public associations and clerics have being providing an active assistance to the law enforcement authorities with weapons surrender process through conducting negotiations with the militants.

A special operation to restore a proper order on the streets of Khorog is under way, says the spokesman.  “Yesterday alone, more than 20 cars with unauthorized tinted window glass and false license plates were moved to the city penalty area,” Asadulloyev added.    

Reports from Khorog say the Gorno Badakhshan capital is now calm.

We will recall that the militants have handed over some 300 weapons by August 3.  The militants agreed to disarm as part of a deal to end the clashes.

The clashes began in Khorog on July 24 when government forces launched a military operation against what it called “militants” following the murder of the regional security chief Abdullo Nazarov on July 21.

The authorities have blamed Tolib Ayombekov, a former warlord from the civil war, for the murder of Abdullo Nazarov.

According to some media sources, fighting that occurred in Khorog last week has left at least 17 soldiers, 30 militants, and some 20 civilians dead.

The authorities are still demanding that four people it considers responsible for the assassination be handed over to face justice.