Ban voices concern at recent unrest in southern Kyrgyzstan

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced his concern about recent unrest in southern Kyrgyzstan, where at least two people were reportedly killed in ethnic clashes yesterday and a regional governor was attacked today.

“The Secretary-General urges calm and restraint. He underlines the need to respect the rule of law and to resolve issues peacefully through dialogue,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement.

The attack on Governor Bektur Asanov of Jalalabad follows deadly clashes yesterday between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in the region, as well as last week’s violence in the southern region which reportedly killed one person and wounded nearly 60 others.

The latest incidents are part of a wave of unrest that has hit the country since the violent ouster last month of former president Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who later left Kyrgyzstan for neighbouring Kazakhstan.

Mr. Ban’s Special Representative for Central Asia, Miroslav Jenča, has regularly visited Kyrgyzstan and is keeping the Secretary-General informed of developments, according to today’s statement.

The Secretary-General also welcomed the decision by the Kazakh authorities to lift the restrictions on their border with Kyrgyzstan.