Police in Baku resorted to force on 1 October in an attempt to disperse opposition supporters who sought to gather on one of the city squares for a rally prohibited by the municipal authorities. The rally was organized by the opposition Azadlyq bloc formed to participate in the parliamentary elections scheduled for 6 November. Would-be participants called for the resignation of the country\'s leadership and for free elections. Ali Kerimli, chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (AHCP), one of Azadlyq\'s three constituent members, estimated turnout at several thousand. He said police detained up to 200 participants, including several registered parliamentary candidates. A Baku police spokesman quoted by day.az gave the number of people detained at 34, and claimed nine police officers were injured in an altercation with armed supporters of prominent Musavat party member Rauf Arifoglu. Arifoglu subsequently released a statement denying his supporters were armed. An undetermined number of rally participants and several journalists were also injured. (Turan)