Tajiks Offer Assurances on Democratic Rule : Central Asia: Russia offers to help end political turmoil.

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan — The leaders of Tajikistan told the world Tuesday that the departure of President Rakhman Nabiyev would not hurt democracy in the poor and volatile former Soviet republic.

“The Parliament and government of the republic of Tajikistan state with full responsibility that the voluntary resignation of the president . . . in no way signifies that we will turn away from the path of creating a democratic, secular state,” an official statement said.

It was clearly designed to address Western concern that Nabiyev’s resignation Monday may have been extracted under duress and that it could bring the Central Asian state one step closer to the creation of an Iranian-style Islamic republic.

“The Parliament and government . . . appeal to all countries of the world to show solidarity and support in these fateful days for the republic of Tajikistan,” the statement added.

Russia on Tuesday offered to help end the political turmoil in Tajikistan but warned the rest of the world not to interfere.

A Foreign Ministry statement said that Russia, which ruled Central Asia directly or through the Soviet Union for more than a century, was concerned about the conflict spreading and destabilizing the region.

In Uzbekistan, President Islam Karimov, a Nabiyev ally, said the Central Asian region is under threat if unrest spreads.

The Russian Itar-Tass news agency quoted him as saying that “outside forces”--an apparent reference to Islamic groups in Afghanistan and Iran--aimed to stir disorder. He called on the United Nations to send an investigative commission.

Nabiyev, a former Communist who was elected president only last November, resigned in dramatic circumstances Monday after talks with opposition leaders in an airport building surrounded by troops and tanks.

“I am resigning of my own free will,” he said in a written statement to the government and parliamentary leadership that appeared in local newspapers.

An official who was with Nabiyev at the airport building, where the president was waiting to fly for talks with local officials in the north of the country, said three members of the presidential security team had been wounded.

Asked if Nabiyev’s resignation was extracted under duress, he commented: “All these actions took place in the presence of armed people.”

A military source, replying to the same question, said: “If there were guards all over the place and several people were shot and wounded, then would you say that (the resignation) was voluntary or under pressure?”

Tajik television said Tuesday that the Cabinet held its first meeting since the president stepped down, but it gave few details.

“It was noted that the government of the republic is using all means and opportunities to stabilize the political situation and cure the economy of the republic,” it said.

In Washington, the State Department issued a travelers advisory saying all U.S. citizens should defer all travel to Tajikistan until further notice. The fighting may spread to the capital city of Dushanbe where the airport is under rebel control, it said.