Uncle of Boston bomb suspects: They're "barbarians"

(CBS News) Several family members of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects -- identified as Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev, 19, of Cambridge, Mass., and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26 -- spoke out Friday morning, all expressing shock at their actions, but offering contrasting descriptions of the young brothers.

Two uncles -- Alvi and Ruslan Tsarni -- spoke to CBS News and CBS Boston affiliate WBZ respectively. Ruslan Tsarni said he was "absolutely shocked" and "absolutely devastated" upon hearing of his nephews' involvement in the attack and said it was "not comprehendible [sic] in our family."

"They've been refugees in this country. Refugees come from war," Ruslan said of their background, though he described the older brother, Tamerlan, as a "a loser."

He also called his nephews "barbarians, wherever they are" and said after learning of their involvement in the bombings, "They do not deserve to be on this earth ... What can I say? They murdered."

Ruslan later called on Dzhokhar to turn himself in and "ask for forgiveness" and said the brothers were a shame to the family and "put a shame on the entire Chechen ethnicity." 

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Alvi Tsarni told WBZ he learned of his nephews' involvement and Tamerlan's death on the news. "I can't believe this, it's not possible," Tsarni said, "My nephews can't do this stuff. There's no way."

Anzor Tsarnaev, the father of the suspects, spoke with Beth Knobel, an expert in Russian politics, on behalf of CBS News. She said he remains "absolutely in shock and denial" and insistent that his sons are "very good boys."

"He said the older one wanted to be a professional boxer. The younger one was in college," Knobel said.

Knobel reported that the boys were in close touch with their father. "The last time that he talked with them was three days ago," she said, "And there was absolutely no talk about any involvement that they may have had in the bombings."

Touching on their religious background, "He said the older boy was more religious, he did go to mosque sometimes. But the younger one was not religious at all."

Tsarnaev is reportedly "very, very angry" that his son Tamerlan was killed during the standoff with Boston authorities. He is "certainly furious at the United States for killing one of them," Knobel said, adding he spent the first few minutes of their phone call "ranting about how could they kill his son."

According to Knobel, Anzor Tsarnaev is currently living in Dagestan, east of Chechnya and he said their mother is "in Russia right now," but she added, his comments "made me think they're not actually living together."

Meanwhile, an aunt of the suspects said Tamerlan recently became a devout Muslim who prayed five times a day.

Maret Tsarnaeva told reporters at her Toronto home on Friday that her brother Anzor Tsarnaev had high expecations for his sons, especially 26-year-old Tamerlan.

She said her brother was desperate when he found out Tamerlan dropped out of his university.

She said Tamerlan married and had a daughter in the U.S.

She called the boys smart and athletic, and she wanted proof they are involved in the bombing.

"Within the family, everything was perfect," she said.