Gorbachev Blasts ‘Orgy of Violence’ : Ethnic unrest: He calls for harsh action against rioting in Soviet Central Asia. Hundreds have died in the last year.

President Mikhail S. Gorbachev today lashed out at rioters in the republic of Tadzhikistan and called for harsh action against them, saying the “country’s destiny and the safety of our citizens is at stake.”

The strong words from Gorbachev came as Soviet troops opened fire today in the riot-torn Tadzhik capital of Dushanbe, killing at least eight people, journalists in that area said.

Shouting with anger during a parliamentary session, Gorbachev criticized the Interior Ministry for releasing three suspects in the violence. The rioting in Dushanbe is the latest in ethnic disturbances that have killed hundreds of people in Central Asia and the Caucasus in the last year.

“This is a kind of chain reaction accompanied by an orgy of violence,” Gorbachev said. “We should throw the book at those who, under slogans of ethnic revival, draw people into a fight for their ambitions and selfish goals.”

He said new legislation was being prepared to deal with the issue.

“The country’s destiny and the safety of our citizens is at stake, comrades. We must do everything to put out the fire.”

In Dushanbe, local journalists said crowds and military vehicles started pulling back a few hours after the Soviet troops fired on rioters. They said an agreement was reached between local officials and leaders of the self-styled Popular Front mass movement, Renaissance.

The journalists said terms of the agreement included eventual resignation of the Central Asian republic’s Communist Party chief, prime minister and president.

The party leadership would meet soon to consider the matter, but a state of emergency remained in effect, they said.

Security forces would also reduce their presence during three days of mourning for those killed in the rioting, which erupted when Muslim Tadzhiks thought that Christian Armenian refugees were jumping lines to get scarce housing.

A resident of Dushanbe, Zina Ushanova, said by telephone that all stores were closed and no bread was available. Public transportation was stopped, she said.

Meanwhile, Mikhail Shtatnov, a spokesman for the Tadzhikistan republic’s Interior Ministry, denied a TV and Moscow Radio report late Tuesday that 37 people had been killed before today’s shooting by Soviet soldiers. He said 11 had died and 143 were injured in the rioting that broke out Monday. Tass put the death toll at 12 and said that among the injured were 50 militia and soldiers.

Violence broke out Monday in Dushanbe after rumors spread that thousands of Armenian refugees from ethnic violence in the Caucasus were being given preference for new housing at the expense of natives.

Tensions also were reported high Monday in Frunze, capital of the neighboring republic of Kirgizia on the border with China, after rumors that Armenian refugees were to receive apartments in the city.