From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Fri Aug 25 2000 - 10:17:59 EDT
KYRGYZSTAN TO ASK KAZAKHSTAN FOR HELP TO COMBAT MILITANTS
Kazakhstan's Defense Minister General Sat Tokpakbaev told a
press briefing in Almaty on 24 August that Kyrgyzstan will
formally request military assistance from Astana to counter
the Islamic threat to the south of Kyrgyzstan, Interfax
reported. He said that the fighting in Bostanlyk in eastern
Uzbekistan is close to the border with Kazakhstan but does
not pose a threat to Kazakhstan's security as Kazakhstan has
been strengthening its southern borders since late last year
and has moved additional troops into Dzhambyl Oblast. LF
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