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| Security forces on the streets of Almaty, Kazakhstan's biggest city. (Photo by= Getty Images) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] Russian-led forces have arrived in Kazakhstan at the request of the country's authoritarian president, amid a violent crackdown on anti-government protests, BBC reported. Officials have reported deaths of police and protesters after days of unrest sparked by a fuel price hike. A BBC journalist in the largest city Almaty shared a video of heavy gunfire overnight on Thursday.
The UN, US, UK, and France have called on all sides to refrain from violence. In a Friday morning update, the Kazakh interior ministry said 26 protesters - who they described as "armed criminals" - had been killed and more than 3,000 others detained by the authorities. Some 18 members of the security forces have died and 748 others have been injured in the violence, it said. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is expected to address the nation on Friday, according to state television.
In a Friday morning update, the Kazakh interior ministry said 26 protesters - who they described as "armed criminals" - had been killed and more than 3,000 others detained by the authorities. Some 18 members of the security forces have died and 748 others have been injured in the violence, it said. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is expected to address the nation on Friday, according to state television.
