Tajikistan Culture Minister Mr Abdurakhim Rakhimov, a key figure in preparing Sunday's celebrations of the country's independence, was shot dead by an unknown gunman early today, a police spokesman said.
The assailant shot Mr Rakhimov as he was leaving his house in the western district of the capital Dushanbe, the spokesman said. The minister died instantly and the gunman, armed with a pistol, escaped.
The reasons for the murder are unclear, the spokesman said.