10 killed during clashes on Kazakhstan’s independence day
December 17th, 2011 - 8:53 am ICT by IANSAstana, Dec 17 (IANS) At least 10 people were killed Friday in Zhanaozen city of Kazakhstan after clashes erupted between oil workers and police during independence day celebrations, an official said.
According to prosecutor-general Askhat Daulbayev, the violent clashes broke out in the central square when a group of men attacked police officers, burned nearby buildings and several cars, Xinhua reported.
“The police demanded to stop the riots, but the hooligans assaulted officers and tried to seize their weapons. They were using cold steel and firearms,” the prosecutor-general said.
President Nursultan Nazarbayev sent a task force led by the interior minister to stop the riots, to put to justice their organisers and to restore law and order in the city, he added.
The attackers were employees of the state-run energy company, who have staged strikes for about six months seeking better salaries, local media reported.
- Kazakh restive town normal, UN experts invited - Dec 23, 2011
- Three Russian journalists detained in Kazakhstan - Dec 19, 2011
- Kazakh cops jailed for attacking protesters - May 29, 2012
- Suicide bomber targets Kazakh state security building - May 17, 2011
- Kazakhs in Delhi can vote for Sunday's Kazakhstan polls - Jan 13, 2012
- Parliamentary polls begin in Kazakhstan - Jan 15, 2012
- Kazakh journalist stabbed - Apr 21, 2012
- Blair met Mittal over Kazakhstan deal: Report - Oct 30, 2011
- Kazakhstan to hold early presidential elections - Jan 31, 2011
- Kazakhstan supports India's bid for permanent UNSC seat - Apr 16, 2011
- Support for India's bid for permanent UNSC seat growing: PM - Apr 17, 2011
- Industrial-innovation Kazakhstan's new economic focus - Jan 28, 2012
- Kazakhstan to celebrate its president's birthday, Astana's founding in July - Jun 23, 2010
- Manmohan Singh back after visit to China, Kazakhstan - Apr 17, 2011
- Geologists name new mineral after Kazakh president - Dec 01, 2011
Tags: attackers, central square, cold steel, energy company, hooligans, independence day, independence day celebrations, interior minister, law and order, local media, nearby buildings, nursultan nazarbayev, oil workers, organisers, police officers, president nursultan nazarbayev, prosecutor general, riots, violent clashes, xinhua