Rebels Suspected Of Beheading Russians

Three Russians were beheaded near a hydroelectric power plant in the former Soviet republic of Tajikistan, Russian news agencies reported Sunday.

One of the victims was a university student, and two were workers at the Rogun power plant, about 60 miles east of Dushanbe, capital of the Central Asian republic.

The reports said police found the bodies Thursday. The victims’ hands were bound, the reports said.

No motive was suggested for the slayings, but the ITAR-Tass news agency said police suspect a rebel group. Russians have long been the target of rebels opposing the hard-line government.