Kyrgyzstan: Readying For A Referendum

Kyrgyzstan - Ethnic Uzbeks pray in Bishkek, 25Jun2010 - Ethnic Uzbeks pray in Bishkek June 25, 2010. Nearly 2,000 soldiers filed into polling booths on Friday in Osh, epicentre of the bloodshed, two days before the main round of voting which the interim government hopes will cement its rule of the poor but strategic country. The interim government, which assumed power after a popular revolt in April overthrew the president, says the plebiscite is crucial to restoring order in the south of the country after the violence between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks. REUTERS/Vladimir Pirogov (KYRGYZSTAN - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS ELECTIONS RELIGION) Date sent:25/06/10 14:55 Slug:KYRGYZSTAN/ Edit status:New Category:I Supplemental category:VIO POL VOTE REL Fixture identifier:GM1E66P1RKJ01 Date created:25/06/10 14:55

Kyrgyzstan -- An ethnic Uzbek woman cries as she passes by a burnt-out house in the town of Osh, 24Jun2010 - KYRGYZSTAN, Osh : An ethnic Uzbek woman cries as she passes by a burnt-out house in the town of Osh on June 24, 2010. Almost all the refugees who fled Kyrgyzstan during ethnic clashes and crossed the border into Uzbekistan have now returned, the deputy head of the country's border service said.

Kyrgyzstan -- An ethnic Kyrgyz woman looks out of a tent at a refugee camp near the city of Osh, 24Jun2010 - An ethnic Kyrgyz woman looks out of a tent at a refugee camp near the city of Osh, June 24, 2010. An international police force may be needed to restore stability in southern Kyrgyzstan after the ethnic bloodshed that has killed hundreds and sparked a wave of refugees, an OSCE official said

Kyrgyzstan -- Resident of Nariman shows her passport that she says soldiers and police burned up during the security operation, 21Jun2010 - photo Bruce Pannier 0546-0550 – Residents of Nariman show their passports that they say soldiers and police burned or ripped up during the security operation

Kyrgyzstan -- Humanitarian supplies from Turkey distributed to victims of ethnic clashes in southern Kyrgyzstan, Osh, 24Jun2010 - OSH, KYRGYZSTAN. JUNE 24, 2010. Humanitarian supplies from Turkey have been delivered to Kyrgyzstan for victims of mass disorders in Osh and Jalal-Abad Regions. (Photo ITAR-TASS / Dmitry Aleshkovsky)