DUSHANBE, August 1, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- The voluntary disarmament process is reportedly going on in Khorog, the capital of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO).

Mahmadullo Asadulloyev, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has told Asia-Plus that a large group of young people who were involved in clashes with government forces in the city laid down a large amount of weapons and ammunition on July 31.

“Mostly Kalashnikov assault rifles of different modification, pistols, sub-machine-guns, grenade launchers, and grenade launcher shells have handed over to the law enforcement authorities,” the spokesman said.  He, however, did not give an exact number of weapons surrendered yesterday.

According to him, the current situation in Khorog is calm and the voluntary disarmament process is going on.

We will recall that the Ministry of Interior said illegal armed groups in Khorog have laid down more than 200 weapons as part of a truce agreement by July 31.

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.

Fighting that occurred in Khorog last week has reportedly left at least 17 soldiers, 30 militants, and more than 20 civilians dead.

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