Kyrgyzstan's interim government extended on Sunday the state of emergency in the south of the country until August 10.
"The state of emergency is being extended from 22:00 on June 27, in the Jalal-Abad region of the republic, the city of Osh and several districts of Osh region, with the establishment of a curfew from 22.00 to 05.00," the government said in a decree.
The state of emergency was introduced earlier to 25 June inclusive but was not in place for Sunday's referendum on a new constitution, which passed off without major incident. The extension of the curfew had been expected.
Clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks broke out in the southern Kyrgyz city of Osh on June 11, lasting several days and spreading to nearby Jalal-Abad.
Although Uzbeks account for about 15% of Kyrgyzstan's population the Osh and Jalal-Abad regions have about even numbers of Kyrgyz and Uzbek residents.
According to the latest data of Kyrgyzstan's health ministry, the death toll in the southern Kyrgyz ethnic clashes has risen to 283 people, while the number of injured stands at 2,238, including 1,047 hospitalized and 1,190 patients who received out-patient treatment.
Kyrgyz authorities admit, though, that the actual number of casualties may be 10 times higher.
BISHKEK, June 27 (RIA Novosti)
