RFE/RL -- Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry says six of its soldiers are dead after a shooting incident at a military base in the country.

RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports that the shootings took place on January 28 at a base in the Dashkesan district, close to the border with Armenia.

The Defense Ministry said in a statement that two soldiers started firing automatic weapons inside the base at about 6 p.m. -- killing four members of their unit and injuring two others.

The four men killed were all military officers, including a local division commander.

The Defense Ministry says the two alleged shooters then turned the weapons on themselves and committed suicide.

Ministry officials refused to comment on conflicting reports that suggest the two alleged shooters were shot dead while trying to flee.

A criminal investigation of the shootings has been launched by military prosecutors in Azerbaijan.