4 Nations Act to Bar Gun Smuggling in Tajikistan

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan —  Four former Soviet republics said Friday that they would send troops to police Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan to prevent the smuggling of arms and drugs into this politically troubled country.

In a strongly worded statement, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan warned that political instability in Tajikistan is threatening security throughout Central Asia.

Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers failed in an effort to oust Tajik President Rakhman Nabiyev, a Communist hard-liner opposed to reform. Only 80 lawmakers showed up for an emergency session of the legislature, far short of the 154 needed for a quorum.

Nabiyev was elected president in November, 1991, with 60% of the popular vote. He agreed in July to share power with the opposition and promised that free parliamentary elections would be held.

But opposition groups say he has introduced neither political nor religious freedoms quickly enough and has failed to curb tribal violence.

Fighting between supporters and opponents of Nabiyev reportedly eased Friday in the southern city of Kurgan-Tyube. More than 100 people reportedly have been killed there in violence that broke out after the Cabinet and senior lawmakers demanded Nabiyev’s resignation Wednesday.

Nabiyev’s whereabouts remained unknown. Rumors persisted that he was hiding in a government retreat or at the commonwealth’s army garrison in Dushanbe.

Nabiyev has insisted that he will remain on the job.