Kyrgyzstan: Tense after ethnic fighting

Written by Super User 19 Jun 2010

Kyrgyz troops patrolled burnt-out streets of the city of Osh to maintain a fragile peace between ethnic groups following days of fierce fighting. Mainly Muslim Kyrgyzstan has been on edge since a revolt in April toppled the president of the ethnically divided Central Asian country and brought an interim government to power. Clashes between its main ethnic groups, Uzbeks and Kyrgyz, erupted in the south on June 10 and escalated into the deadliest violence in the former Soviet republic in 20 years. At least 179 people have been killed, mainly in Osh and nearby Jalalabad. The violence has subsided in past days but a constitutional referendum expected next week may reignite tensions. The son of the deposed president was arrested in Farnborough having flown from Kyrgyzstan to the UK in a private jet. The interim government is seeking his extradition, accusing him of funding this latest violence. STOP PRESS: Kyrgyz Christians are already risking extra hostility for protecting Uzbek believers in the midst of the violent ethnic clashes in Kyrgyzstan. This morning (16 June) a pastor in Kyrgyzstan told Barnabas Fund that threats are now being voiced against Christians - rather than simply against a particular ethnic group. Barnabusfund  

Pray: that the fragile peace in Kyrgyzstan would continue and that the referendum would bring stability. (Pr.29:4)

More: http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE65A5PA20100616?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FUKTopNews+%28News+%2F+UK+%2F+Top+News%29

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