Baku, 11 June 2002 (RFE/RL) -- Azerbaijani police have detained two leading members of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan in connection with riots last week that authorities blamed on Islamic fundamentalists. The party's political director, Gunduz Gadzhiev, said party head Alikram Aliyev was detained yesterday and is currently being held without charge. He said Aliev's lawyers have been prevented from seeing him. Gadzhiev said party member Mirmehti Darafarin was also detained.
Police have detained about 30 people since the unrest in the village of Nardaran, 30 kilometers from Baku. The riots left one man dead and dozens of police officers injured. The crowd was protesting the arrest of four villagers at an earlier rally, saying authorities were trying to stifle dissent.
Azerbaijan's parliament addressed the detentions today, but decided to postpone a resolution until President Heidar Aliyev makes a statement on the issue.
Police have detained about 30 people since the unrest in the village of Nardaran, 30 kilometers from Baku. The riots left one man dead and dozens of police officers injured. The crowd was protesting the arrest of four villagers at an earlier rally, saying authorities were trying to stifle dissent.
Azerbaijan's parliament addressed the detentions today, but decided to postpone a resolution until President Heidar Aliyev makes a statement on the issue.