DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Gunmen ambushed a truck convoy traveling through Tajikistan , killing 23 to 40 military personnel, media reports indicated Monday.
ITAR-Tass and RIA Novosti put the death toll from Sunday's assault at 40 while The New York Times said 23 troops died.
Tajik government officials Monday blamed Islamic militants, some with ties to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and warned a recent surge in violence could destabilize the country, the Times said.
The troops were searching for prisoners who escaped from a pretrial detention center in August, RIA Novosti said.
A column of military vehicles carrying about 80 soldiers was passing through the Rasht district near the Pamir Mountains on patrol when it was ambushed, government spokesman Faridun Makhmadaliyev told the Times by telephone.
UPI
