Azerbaijan Air Force Chief shot dead

Azerbaijan: The powerful chief of Azerbaijan’s air force was shot dead outside his home Wednesday, the highest ranking military official to be killed in the oil-rich republic wedged between Russia and Iran.

Lieutenant-General Rail Rzayev, 64, was gunned down outside his home in the capital Baku as he left for work in the early morning, interior ministry spokesman Sadiq Gozalov told AFP.

“The general was shot and received a heavy wound to the head. He was sent to the military hospital in Baku, where he died,” Gozalov said.

Thursday, AFP