Masked uniformed police launched an assault early on 5 February on some 100 protesters encamped on the main square of the village of Nardaran near Baku. Villagers claimed police opened fire without warning and began beating the protesters, injuring eight of them and detaining 15. They also claimed an unidentified gas was used during the assault. A statement issued by the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry and Prosecutor-General\'s Office said the operation was undertaken to apprehend persons charged with staging mass unrest and with using force against representatives of the authorities. The statement said the protesters refused to give themselves up to the police and opened fire. Police clashed with Naradan residents in June 2002, killing one and injuring 34. Eighteen people are currently on trial for their alleged involvement in those clashes. (Turan)