Thousands of refugees have fled to Uzbekistan from Kyrgyzstan, which has hit by deadly ethnic violence, as the Uzbek authorities have opened the border with Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyz and Uzbek ethnic leaders in Kyrgyzstan agreed on Sunday to begin reconciliation talks after more than 100 people were killed in clashes in the country's south on Friday and Saturday.
The Russian Defense Ministry sent on Sunday an additional 150 paratroopers to enhance security at Russia's airbase in Kyrgyzstan.
Uzbekistan opens border for Kyrgyz refugees
More than 75,000 ethnic Uzbeks have fled Kyrgyzstan to take refuge in Uzbekistan following the unrest.
"Most of them are women and old people. There are people with gunshot wounds among them," an Uzbek Emergencies Ministry official said.
Several women and children were reported trampled to death as crowds of people were trying to get across deep ditches at the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border.
Deadly clashes between Kyrgyz and ethnic Uzbek groups swept through the country's second-largest city of Osh and another southern city of Jalalabad on Friday and Saturday.
Uzbekistan has opened its border with Kyrgyzstan Sunday night, allowing refugees to enter the country. The Uzbek Emergencies Ministry said the border will remain open "until there is a necessity" for it.
According to the ministry, refugee camps have been opened in three Uzbek regions. Medical workers and psychologists reportedly provide assistance to those arriving at the camps.
The border between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan was closed following the riots, which left hundreds of people injured.
A Kyrgyz health ministry spokeswoman said on Sunday that about 1250 people have turned for medical help as a result of the violence.
During the days of riotuing, Kyrgyz and ethnic Uzbek groups set ablaze cars, crushed the stores and markets as well as the residential houses. The looters have been rampaging through the streets during the days of rioting.
Groups of people armed with bludgeons and knives were reported roaming along the streets in Osh on Sunday.
Ethnic leaders set for reconciliation talks
The president of Kyrgyz public fund Otkrytaya Positsiya said that Kyrgyz and Uzbek ethnic leaders agreed on Sunday to begin reconciliation talks.
"Reports from the city of Osh said that informal Kyrgyz and Uzbek ethnic leaders in Osh's south-east agreed to begin talks... aimed at reestablishing peace [in the area]," Dmitry Kabak said.
Earlier on Sunday, the Kyrgyz interim government introduced a state of emergency in the entire territory of the Jalalabad region and imposed a curfew in the area. The state of emergency will be in effect until June 22.
A curfew has also been introduced in the city of Osh and the neighboring Kara-Suu and Aravan districts. The interim government has allowed police and the troops to shoot to kill in order to quench the riots and stop looters.
The Kyrgyz authorities have also issued a decree allowing the Defense Ministry to call up reservists aged under 50 to stabilize the situation in the country's south.
Violence has been common in the former Soviet republic since opposition protests overthrew president Kurmanbek Bakiyev in early April. The president has fled the country and has taken refuge in Belarus.
Russia sends additional troops to Kyrgyzstan
An additional 150 Russian paratroopers arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Sunday to provide security to officers serving at Russia's Kant airbase in northern Kyrgyzstan and their families, the Russian Defense Ministry official spokesman said.
The Central Asian country agreed last year to extend the lease of the Kant airbase, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) outside the capital, Bishkek, for 49 years with an automatic extension every 25 years.
Alexei Kuznetsov said the troops are also ordered to reinforce security at other Russian Defense Ministry's facilities in Kyrgyzstan.
MOSCOW, June 13 (RIA Novosti)
