DUSHANBE, August 23, 2012, Asia-Plus -- Several thousand people continued to occupy a central square in the city of Khorog, the capital of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region early on August 23, demanding that the government withdraw forces from the area and dismiss the region''s top official, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reports.

According to RFE/RL, the protest started one day earlier after a rebel field commander, who fought against the government in the Tajik civil war of the 1990s, was reported killed by unidentified assailants.

Demonstrators have alleged that the killing violated a truce between armed groups and the government that was reached last month after fighting in the Gorno-Badakhshan region left around 70 people dead.

Protesters say the continued presence of additional military forces in the area is contributing to tensions.

The demonstrators are also demanding the sacking of the top government official in Badakhshan, Qodir Qosim, RFE/RL noted.