Global General

75,000 Uzbeks flee ethnic riots in Kyrgyzstan

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-06-14 13:07

The Red Cross said in a statement that the bodies its delegates saw being buried in Osh raise concerns that the dead are not being properly identified before burial. It said a plane carrying medical supplies and body bags landed in Osh on Sunday, and additional staff and supplies were to be sent in the coming days.

The US Manas air base in Bishkek is a crucial supply hub for the coalition fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan. Manas was working with the US State Department and interim government to help deliver food and medical supplies, said Air Force Maj. John A. Elolf, a spokesman at the base.

Uzbekistan's Foreign Ministry condemned the riots and voiced hope that Kyrgyzstan will re-establish order. However, the country's President Islam Karimov is unlikely to interfere in the conflict.

Russia refused Kyrgyzstan's request for military help to quell the rioting, but confirmed it sent extra reinforcements to protect its base. The Pentagon said the interim government had not asked for any US military help.

Kyrgyz and Uzbeks are both predominantly Sunni Muslim. Uzbeks are generally better off economically, but they have few representatives in power and have pushed for broader political and cultural rights. While Uzbeks make up only about 15 percent of the overall population, they rival Kyrgyz in numbers in the Osh and Jalal-Abad regions.

Kyrgyz in Osh blamed Uzbeks for starting the violence.

"Why have the Uzbeks become so brazen?" said one Osh resident, who gave only her first name, Aigulia, because she feared for her safety. "Why do they burn my house?"

Aigulia said her house was destroyed by Uzbeks overnight and all her Kyrgyz neighbors had to run for their safety. She said the area was still unsafe, claiming Uzbek snipers were shooting at them.

A Kyrgyz man, Iskander, said he and others burned Uzbek property to avenge their attacks.

"Whatever you see over there -- all the burnt restaurants and cafes -- were owned by them and we destroyed them on purpose," he said. "Why didn't they want to live in peace?"