OSH, Kyrgyzstan -- Authorities in Kyrgyzstan have sent additional security forces to the southern city of Uzgen after an incident involving police and members of the Uzbek community.
The decision on July 18 to send police reinforcements was meant to head off interethnic violence of the kind that broke out in southern Kyrgyzstan in June 2010 and left more than 400 people dead.
This latest problem started when police stopped a car on July 17 and a crowd gathered and attacked the police.
Several people were detained but a crowd of ethnic Uzbeks gathered outside the police station demanding the release of those taken into custody.
Uzgen police chief Stalbek Bakirov said the situation was under control and a criminal investigation has been launched into the assault on that policemen.
The population of Uzgen is overwhelmingly ethnic Uzbek.
The decision on July 18 to send police reinforcements was meant to head off interethnic violence of the kind that broke out in southern Kyrgyzstan in June 2010 and left more than 400 people dead.
This latest problem started when police stopped a car on July 17 and a crowd gathered and attacked the police.
Several people were detained but a crowd of ethnic Uzbeks gathered outside the police station demanding the release of those taken into custody.
Uzgen police chief Stalbek Bakirov said the situation was under control and a criminal investigation has been launched into the assault on that policemen.
The population of Uzgen is overwhelmingly ethnic Uzbek.