Kyrgyzstan seeks Russian help to control violence

Bishkek, June 12 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Kyrgyzstan Saturday asked Russia to send peacekeepers to help stop the violence in the country that has claimed 50 lives.

“The situation has got out of control since Friday evening and we need outside military forces to arrest the situation,” interim leader Roza Otunbayeva said. “In connection with this, we are turning to Russia,” she said.

Otunbayeva’s comments came after she had spoken by phone to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin late Friday.

At least 50 people have been killed and hundreds injured in continuing inter-ethnic violence that began in southern city of Osh Thursday. Hospitals are unable to feed the injured and refugees, mainly Uzbek women and children.

Osh was the stronghold of former president Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who was overthrown following violent street protests in April.

The interim government has declared a state of emergency and deployed troops to the region.

Meanwhile, the UN has appealed for calm and called on Kyrgyzstan to “pay particular attention to inter-ethnic relations in the country”.

–IANS/RIA Novosti