Interim president seeks Russia military help to quell Kyrgystan riots

As ethnic violence spirals out of control in Kyrgystan, Russian rapid deployment paratroopers might be readying to enter the strategic central Asian republic to help quell widespread rioting which has left 63 people dead and 838 wounded.

The Russian forces could respond after the besieged nation's president sent an SOS to dispatch troops as violent mobs continued to rampage through some of the major regions in
the country's south.

As the country's second major city Osh slid into chaos with gun-toting Kyrgyz gangs attacking the Uzbeks, the interim president Rosa Otunbayeva wrote a letter to President Dmitry
Medvedev to airlift troops to control the rampaging mobs. 

Russia could send its rapid deployment paratroopers regiment to restore calm in Osh as the toll rises to 63 with 838 injured on the second day of ethnic violence between the Kyrgyz and the minority Uzbeks.

The defence ministry in Moscow ruled out the re-deployment of Russian troops based at the Manas airbase near capital Bishkek, saying 'they have other duties to perform'.

But, Biznes FM radio in a report did not rule out the possibility of Russian rapid deployment airborne troops based in Ulyanovsk in Volga region being dropped in Osh and other violence-hit south Kyrgyz regions.

Osh was reported to be black with smoke as Kyrgyz men, armed with guns and iron rods attacked houses and businesses of Uzbeks, triggering an exodus by the minority community towards Uzbekistan.

The interim government sent troops and armour into the bloodied city, which is the stronghold of ousted president Kurmanbek Bakiyev, but they failed to stop the violence. Air Force helicopters were hovering over the city where violence continued for the second day.

"The situation in Osh has spun out of control," Otunbayeva said in her communication to Medvedev, as the three major powers US, China and Russia appealed for restoration of calm.

Both Moscow and Washington have military bases in the former USSR republic, located just outside capital Bishkek. 

"Attempts to establish law and order and start a dialogue have failed and fighting and rampaging is continuing with impunity. We need outside forces to quell the confrontation," the interim president said.

She also said that there was acute shortage of food and medicines in the embattled southern Kyrgyztan after almost
all the stores had been looted and torched. 

Interfax reported about the beginning of a military operation in Osh to recapture the city centre under control of armed gangs involved in looting and arson attacks on Uzbeks.

"We need the deployment of military contingents from other countries. We have asked Russia for this. I have written a letter to this effect to president Dmitry Medvedev," Otunbayeva was quoted as saying by ITAR-TASS.

Blaming the deposed president Bakiyev for sparking anti-Uzbek violence in Osh and other southern regions, Otunbayeva said: "the situation in Osh has sharply deteriorated and could lead to unpredictable consequences." 

"We are ready to start negotiations with Russia any moment for receiving its peacekeeping contingent in Osh," Otunbayeva said.

In Moscow, scores of ethnic Uzbeks gathered in front of Kyrgyz and Uzbek embassies seeking prompt action to end anti-Uzbek violence in the Central Asian republic.

Being a public holiday on Russia Day, the police acted to send extra force to protect the Kyrgyz embassy. 

The ethnic violence in Kyrgyztan is now spreading to the capital city as the administration appealed to all former policemen and war veterans to help contain the clashes. 

Oyunbayeva also spoke on phone to Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin. Russia has a pact with its erstwhile republics which can be invoked to send Russian forces into the countries.

The government has declared a state of emergency in and around Osh, but the city seems to be burning with no let up in violence.

Human rights groups are warning of a humanitarian crisis brewing in the region as the minority Uzbeks are fleeing to Uzbekistan using any means of transport. All roads leading to the border are reported to be choked with people. 

The official death toll given out by the health ministry said 63 people had been killed so far and 838 were wounded. They said hospitals were overflowing with casualties.

Like the US, Russia also has an airbase at Kant near Bishkek, where a battalion of crack paratroopers was deployed by Medvedev in April after the fall of Bakiyev government in the wake of violent anti-government protests.

Otunbayeva has also ordered opening of the Kyrgyz border with Uzbekistan to allow fleeing ethnic Uzbek women and children take refuge in the neighbouring country. 

"The situation in Osh remains very difficult," an interior ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

A correspondent of Moscow based Biznes FM reported that dead bodies were lying on the streets of Osh and huge clouds of smoke could be seen hanging the Uzbek residential areas.

Medics have been unable to reach many of the injured people due to the fighting. 

Last night UN secretary general Ban ki Moon had appealed for calm and urged the Kyrgyz interim government to retain inter-ethnic harmony in the country.