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Tajik Vendors Protest In Wake Of Dushanbe Market Fire


Hundreds of vendors and their supporters turned out on September 6 for a protest over the fire at a main Dushanbe market one day earlier.
Hundreds of vendors and their supporters turned out on September 6 for a protest over the fire at a main Dushanbe market one day earlier.
DUSHANBE -- Hundreds of Tajik vendors who lost their goods in a deadly fire at a marketplace on the Dushanbe outskirts have held a march in the Tajik capital to demand that authorities compensate them for their losses.

The blaze, late on September 5, destroyed one of the market's major buildings and numerous trade stands where goods were stored.

Officials said one person was killed in the fire and two were hospitalized with burns.

Some vendors have claimed the death toll is much higher.

Dushanbe Mayor Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloev met with the vendors on September 6 and promised to arrange compensation and deals with local banks to delay credit payments due by the vendors.

Officials say an investigation has been launched into the fire, whose cause remains unclear.

There have been several previous fires at the same market.

Based on reporting by Interfax and RFE/RL's Tajik Service

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