Six men have been arrested in Azerbaijan on suspicion of planning terrorist acts in the country.
Azerbaijan's Ministry for National Security said on March 4 that the men had been arrested during a counterterrorism operation.
Authorites said the six are suspected of organizing a terrorist group aimed at establishing an Islamic state based on Sharia law on the territory of Azerbaijan.
The ministry also said the suspects proclaimed themselves "emirs" (leaders) of the state-to-be and planned a series of terrorist acts in the country.
The majority of Azerbaijan's 9.5 million population are Shi'te Muslims.
