Gunmen nab hostages in Tajikistan

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan -- Gunmen in eastern Tajikistan have kidnapped 15 people and demanded the release of prisoners accused of a political killing, according to reports.

The hostages included one American, two Germans and three Russians, the Tajik Interior Ministry told the Interfax news agency.

They were seized at the offices of the German agricultural aid firm AgroAction in the Tavil-Dara region, 170 kilometers (100 miles) south of Dushanbe, the ITAR-Tass news agency said.

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According to ITAR-Tass as reported by the Associated Press, the hostage-takers are demanding the release of four people arrested in the April 11 killing of Deputy Interior Minister Khabib Sanginov.

He was shot down by gunmen who opened fire on his car as he drove through a suburb of Dushanbe.

Reuters reported that later on Friday the kidnappers released four hostages, including German Beathe Schorait, who heads Agro Action's Tajik mission, but seized four local Security Ministry servicemen.

One American and two Germans are still among the hostages, Reuters reported.

The official said the kidnappers were demanding the release of four or five persons arrested last month on suspicion of taking part in the murder of deputy Interior Minister Khabib Sanginov in April.

Officials gave no further details and declined to say what steps were being taken to free the hostages.

Tajikistan, a mountainous Central Asian state of 6.2 million, remains chronically unstable after years of civil war.

The impoverished country remains flooded with weapons, and killings and kidnappings are commonplace.