The leaders of Tajikistan\'s opposition Taraqqiyot Party announced at a news conference on 18 March that they are ending the hunger strike they began on 12 March. The four party members, two deputy chairman among them, initiated the hunger strike to protest the Justice Ministry\'s four-month-long delay in registering the party. The erstwhile hunger strikers told journalists in Dushanbe on 18 March that they \"will continue to defend civil society\'s right to political pluralism and democratic values within a constitutional framework.\" Justice Minister Khalifabobo Homidov told the news agency that the registration procedure has indeed gone beyond the stipulated time frame, but his ministry will continue to review the party\'s documents for \"as long as is necessary.\" (ITAR-TASS)