Kyrgyz Security Officer Killed In Shoot-Out

JALAL-ABAD -- Two people have reportedly been killed in a shoot-out in southern Kyrgyzstan, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Officials of the Jalal-Abad Oblast administration told RFE/RL that in a special operation against a suspected illegally armed group, national security troops surrounded a house in the Suzak district with several armed people inside.

According to the officials, one national security officer was killed in the ensuing shoot-out, and one officer was severely injured. Also, at least one armed person inside the house was reported killed.

Last month, neighboring Uzbekistan claimed that an armed formation that allegedly attacked police in Andijon and Khanabad, near the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border, had entered Uzbek territory from Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyz authorities at the time rejected the allegation.