Almaty, 24 April (RFE/RL) - Kazakh Foreign Minister Yerlan Idrisov said today his country is asking Russia to temporarily halt missile tests from a military site near the two countries' border after a missile accidentally struck Kazakh territory on Friday. Idrisov said it was a lucky coincidence the Strizh-3 rocket launched from Russia's Ashuluk testing range landed in an uninhabited area.
The missile was carrying an explosive charge and left a crater two meters deep and nearly five meters wide. Idrisov said a note is being sent to the Russian Embassy in Almaty asking for a suspension of launches until an investigation determines why the missile went astray.
Last year two Russian Proton rockets exploded moments after lift-off from the Baikonur cosmodrome located in Kazakhstan. Large fragments of the rockets showered down on Kazakhstan but caused no casualties.
Last year two Russian Proton rockets exploded moments after lift-off from the Baikonur cosmodrome located in Kazakhstan. Large fragments of the rockets showered down on Kazakhstan but caused no casualties.