Kyrgyzstan addresses Russia for help as Osh situation aggravates.

12/6 Tass 100


BISHKEK, June 12 (Itar-Tass) -- Kyrgyzstan has addressed Russia for
peacekeeping assistance, the head of the country's interim government Roza
Otunbayeva said on Saturday.
The situation in the city of Osh has aggravated, she said.
"We need to bring in military forces from other countries," she said.
"We have asked Russia for help in a letter sent to Russia's President
Dmitry Medvedev, which I signed."
Kyrgyzstan is prepared to have talks with Russia on its peacekeeping
mission in Osh at any time.
"We are waiting for a reply from the Russian Federation," Otunbayeva
said.
She hopes the Russian side may take a positive decision approving "the
bringing in of foreign forces into the zone of the conflict."
"I hope that all efforts will make it possible to take control over
the conflict situation," she added.
She is confident, the brothers of the former president are responsible
for the disorders which started on the night from Thursday to Friday.
"The pressure from these people to regain the power is very high, and
they are already involved in the events in the southern part of the
country," Otunbayeva said. Kyrgyzstan's authorities continue to forward
extra forces to Osh. She also acknowledged that the conflict caused deaths
from both sides.
"The number of victims is higher than what we all learn from official
reports," she said.
The situation in Osh may become a humanitarian catastrophe, as there
is shortage of food in the city, and it is brought in from neighbouring
regions.
"We have made a decision to open the border towards Uzbekistan and
this decision was supported in Tashkent," Otunbayeva said. "Women,
children and the elderly may cross the border."
She appreciated the position of Uzbekistan's leaders to strengthen the
border from their side, as in Uzbekistan "there are emotional elements,
too, who are ready to take part in the conflict."
Official information confirms 50 died and 600 injured over the ethnic
clashes in Osh between Uzbek and Kyrgyz nationals.
"The dynamics of the events there is very high, and sometimes we do
not manage to trace the situation," Otunbayeva said. "From last night the
situation has been overwhelming."

-0-kar/kud