Kazakhstan Reopens Border With Kyrgyzstan

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Kazakhstan Reopens Border With Kyrgyzstan

WATCH: Residents near the border welcome its reopening.

BISHKEK -- Kazakhstan has reopened its border with Kyrgyzstan, which has been closed for more than a month.

RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports that three border crossing points reopened today and that people and goods were moving across the border without restrictions.

Kazakhstan closed the border on April 7 when clashes between security forces and antigovernment demonstrators toppled Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev.

The closure of the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border, the main import-export route for Kyrgyzstan, exacerbated the country's economic problems.

Kyrgyz interim government deputy head Omurbek Tekebaev said Astana's decision had created an "economic blockade."