Protesters Storm City Offices In Kazakh Commercial Capital

ALMATY -- Dozens of protesters have stormed the Almaty municipal administration building after the mayor refused to meet with them.

The protesters are owners of houses in the Almaty suburbs that are to be demolished. They forcibly entered the municipal building and began singing the Kazakh national anthem.

RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reported that police later violently pushed the demonstrators out of the building. Several were arrested.

The owners of the old houses in the Almaty outskirts have been fighting to keep their property for several years, while officials say the land is needed to build new buildings in the booming city.