Kyrgyz Security Head Seeks New Counterterrorism Center
May 23, 2006
May 23, 2006 -- The head of Kyrgyzstan's National Security Service today suggested the creation of a national counterterrorism center.
Busurmankul Tabaldiev made the proposal at a meeting with lawmakers.
Kyrgyzstan's Kabar news agency quotes Tabaldiev as saying the projected counterterrorism center should help enhance cooperation among law-enforcement agencies.
Tabaldiev, who was appointed on May 10, justified the idea by saying the country is facing a joint threat from radical Islamic groups and armed drug smugglers.
He referred directly to an armed border incident on May 12 that left six Kyrgyz servicemen and civilians killed. Authorities have blamed alleged Islamic militants entering from Tajikistan for the violence.
(Kabar, AKIpress)