A third party emerged, called the Democratic Party of Tajikistan, espousing a state in the European model of democracy, with freedom of religion and opinion for all. A coalition government of the IRP and the Democratic Party briefly came to power. A brutal civil war broke out in mid-1992, in which at least 20 thousand died and more than 800,000 were displaced. The coalition government crumbled, and a new government dominated by the former Communist Party old guard came into being headed by Emomali Rahmonov. A UN-sponsored peace agreement was signed in September 1994, and Emomali Rahmonov was elected president of the Republic in a nationwide election that observers said was marred by fraud and fear.
Ethnic tensions continue to run high and returning refugees have faced attacks and threats.