Residents from Uzbek blocks of Osh head for Uzbekistan border.

12/6 Tass


BISHKEK, June 12 (Itar-Tass) -- Residents from the Uzbek blocks of
Kyrgyzstan's Osh are leaving their homes and head for the border with
Uzbekistan, witnesses said on Saturday.
"They are mostly women and children," they said.
Among those Uzbeks who live compactly in Osh, very many are wounded,
the witnesses said.
"As these regions are blocked by barricades and aggressive crowds,
they cannot be taken to hospitals."
The clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbek nationals in Osh started
the night from Thursday to Friday. Official report claims 49 died and over
600 turned for medical aid. Over 450 were taken to hospitals, about half
of them is in poor condition.
The interim government announced emergency and imposed curfew between
18:00 and 06:00. However, eyewitnesses said that those measures had a
partial effect. The disorders in central Osh were stopped, but clashes,
disorders, fires and gunfire continue in the outskirts. Military and
interior forces and armoured vehicles from other regions were sent to the
city. The military were allowed to use arms if civilians' lives were
threatened. However, the situation in the city "remains very complicated,"
a source in Kyrgyzstan's interior ministry said.
Osh residents tell reporters that the sky is covered with smoke of the
fires. Latest reports say the participants in the disorders have put on
fire dozens shops, cafes, a bank, two theatres, cars, including police
cars, several hostels, houses and apartment buildings. Many groups of
ethnic Kyrgyz nationals continue to come to Osh.

-0-kar