Officials in Tajikistan have confirmed that shots were fired at a motorcade in which the country's Deputy Prime Minister, Akhbar Turajonzoda was travelling.

Mr Turajonzoda was not hurt in the incident, which happened on Monday evening as he was returning from the capital, Dushanbe, to his home in the town of Kofarnihon.

A spokesman for Mr Turajonzoda has played down the significance of the shooting, saying it resulted from a dispute between his bodyguards.

Officials say charges of hooliganism have been brought against a local man who is believed to have been involved. The shooting is the latest in a series of violent incidents in Tajikistan, which is preparing to hold crucial parliamentary elections at the end of the month.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service