Kyrgyzstan Says 19 Citizens Fighting In Syria

Kyrgyz officials say 19 residents of the country's southern region of Jalal-Abad are thought to be fighting with Islamic insurgent groups in Syria.

Officials at the Kyrgyz State Committee for National Security (UKMK) told RFE/RL on May 12 that Turkey's secret service had helped return to Jalal-Abad three Kyrgyz citizens who had been in Syria.

Five other residents of Jalal-Abad were detained before their trip to Syria this month.

The UKMK said earlier that some 70 Kyrgyz citizens allegedly recruited by Islamic radical groups may be fighting with rebel insurgents against government troops in Syria.

Several people from that group are known to have returned to Kyrgyzstan.