Nine Dead In Kyrgyz Border Clash

(RFE/RL) BISHKEK, May 12, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Kyrgyz authorities say that security forces have completed an operation against a group of gunmen who entered southern Kyrgyzstan from Tajikistan.

The press services for the Kyrgyz presidential office and the Kyrgyz Border Guards Service say four gunmen -- who authorities describe as militants -- were killed and one captured in the operation.

The gunmen killed five border guards earlier today at posts on both sides of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border.

RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported that at least two Kyrgyz police officers were injured during the afternoon battle. Three of the border guards killed were Tajiks and two were from Kyrgyzstan.

The gunmen seized a number of assault rifles from the Tajik border post before heading to Kyrgyzstan's southern Batken region.

(with additional material from Akipress, Interfax, AP, AFP, and RFE/RL's Tajik Service)