More than 100 Indian citizens stuck in violence-gripped Kyrgyzstan

NEW DELHI, June 14 (Itar-Tass) -- More than 100 Indian citizens have
been blocked in violence-gripped southern Kyrgyzstan's regions, a source
in the Indian foreign ministry said on Monday.
According to the source, 101 Indian citizens are reported to be stuck
in Kyrgyzstan's Osh, mainly students of the Osh medical institute, and
another 15 - in Jalal-Abad.
"Our diplomatic mission in Kyrgyzstan is maintaining close contacts
with several Indian citizens, and with Kyrgyzstan's law enforcement
agencies and the foreign ministry," Indian foreign ministry said in a
statement, adding that all efforts are taken to ensure the safety of the
Indian citizens.
The ministry said the Indian embassy in Bishkek "is watching closely
the development in Kyrgyzstan, and as soon as the situation becomes
controlled," it would take steps to help its citizens.
Massive disorders and clashes between ethnic Uzbeks and Kyrgyzs flared
up in the country's second largest city of Osh overnight to June 11. The
following day the riots spread to the neighbouring Jalal-Abad region. The
state of emergency and curfew were imposed in the conflict-gripped areas.
According to latest reports, the death toll from inter-ethnic clashes
in Kyrgyzstan has reached 118. More than 1,400 people have sought medical
assistance.
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