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Twelve law enforcement personnel have died in clashes with protesters in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, state TV said on Thursday, hours after police said they had “eliminated” dozens of rioters amid the worst unrest since the country’s independence three decades ago.
Several armoured personnel carriers and dozens of troops moving on foot were seen entering the main square of Almaty early on Thursday, a day after the country embattled president appealed for help from a Russia-led security alliance. Gunfire erupted soon after as security forces clashed with protesters who were rallying for a third consecutive day.
State television said 12 members of the security forces were killed in the worsening unrest, adding that one of the bodies was found with its head cut off. Local media cited police officials as saying that “dozens” of protesters were killed overnight as they tried to storm administrative buildings in Almaty.
The unrest, which kicked off in protest at a fuel price hike, prompted President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to declare a state of emergency and appeal for help on Wednesday. The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance of former Soviet states, said Russia had sent paratroopers to Kazakhstan to help restore order.
Videos on social media on Thursday showed pillaged shops and burned buildings in Almaty, automatic gunfire in the streets and residents screaming in fear. But the full picture of the chaos was unclear, with widespread disruptions to communications including mobile phone signals, the blocking of online messengers and hours-long internet shutdowns.
The health ministry said more than 1,000 people were injured during the clashes, and more than 400 of them were in hospital, according to the TASS news agency.
Kazakh president…
Source : france24
