Kazakhstan riots see dozens of protesters 'eliminated'

Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan): Amidst the unrest that has gripped Kazakhstan, it has been reported that dozens of attackers have been "eliminated" following their attempt to attack the national administrative buildings and the police department of the Kazakh city of Almaty, the former capital city.

Russia's TASS news agency also reported that in all 12 law enforcement officers have been killed and 353 others injured in the clashes with the rioters in the city.

As part of the "anti-terrorist" special operation, the police urged residents and visitors not to leave home in the interest of their own safety., Xinhua news agency quoted the TASS report citing Kazakhstan's Khabar-24 TV channel as saying.

Over the past few days, a total of over 1,000 people were injured across the country, and nearly 400 of them were hospitalised in the violent protests.

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry has claimed that 2,298 protesters have also been detained.

With the escalation of the unrest, spurred by protests at surging fuel prices, on Wednesday, protesters who stormed the main government building in Almaty, set police vehicles on fire, and attacked the regional branch of the ruling Nur Otan party.

The mounting unrest prompted the Kazakh government to seek help from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which has decided to deploy peacekeeping forces to the country.

The CSTO comprises Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Tajikistan and Armenia.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has blamed foreign-trained "terrorists" for the unrest, without giving evidence.

He has also fired his cabinet aimed at curbing the demonstrations, including his predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who had held a national security role since stepping down as President.

(With inputs from IANS)