Ban Stresses Importance Of Kyrgyzstan Reconciliation Ahead Of Vote

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Ahead of presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on the country's president to carry out the key recommendations of an independent inquiry into last year's deadly ethnic violence.

A UN statement says Ban made the call during talks with President Roza Otunbaeva in New York on September 19.

He also noted the "personal efforts" of Otunbaeva to ensure that next month's elections are transparent and credible.

Hundreds of people were reported killed in clashes in the country's south between ethnic Kyrgyz and ethnic Uzbeks that began in June 2010.

compiled from agency reports