DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The militant Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan claimed responsibility for a Sunday attack in Tajikistan that left 26 Tajik soldiers dead, a statement said.
Tajik officials said Islamic militants ambushed a military convoy carrying around 80 soldiers through the Pamir Mountains.
An alleged spokesman of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan said fighters from the group carried out the attack, the Turkmen online news agency Ferghana.ru reports.
The spokesman said the attacks were in response to a Tajik decision to close mosques and jail Islamic supporters. The statement said Tajikistan could face "similar attacks" if the government didn't reverse course on a ban on the Islamic headscarf and an alliance with Western governments.
Authorities earlier accused opposition commanders of leading the attacks.
UPI
