Azerbaijan Leader Alleges Coup Plot
President Heydar Aliyev accused his prime minister today of plotting a coup against him and thousands answered his appeal to gather outside the presidential palace in the capital, Baku, to defend him.
Over the weekend, special Interior Ministry troops held Azerbaijan’s general prosecutor hostage overnight. After freeing him, they withdrew to their base on the outskirts of Baku, where they exchanged brief gunfire with surrounding government troops.
The incident highlighted a simmering dispute between Interior Minister Ramil Usubov and his deputy, Rovshan Javadov.
Aliyev said the troops loyal to Javadov had seized the country’s second-biggest city, Gence. He alleged that Prime Minister Suret Huseinov’s troops had joined the rebellion in Gence.
Huseinov denied any involvement in the alleged plot. Javadov appeared at the rally to declare his support for the president.
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