Bishkek, 28 August 2000 (RFE/RL) - A group of some 60 armed militants from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan attacked a Kyrgyz border post in the southern Batken region late last night. Kyrgyzstan's Defense Ministry said fighting lasted until this morning. The ministry said the militants were repelled and headed for the Tajik border.
The Defense Ministry said none of its troops were injured in the clash. Tajik Minister of Emergency Situations Mirzo Ziyoyev repeated today that there are no IMU militants on Tajik territory. Ziyoyev said fighting in Uzbekistan, where other IMU militants have clashed with Uzbek troops in several locations, is Uzbekistan's internal problem.
Ziyoyev has been accused by the Russian press and some Uzbek and Kyrgyz government officials of helping the IMU militants. Ziyoyev was a commander with Tajikistan's Islamic opposition during the 1992-1997 civil war.