Kazakhstan reopened its border with Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday after closing it in April due to violent unrest that led to the ouster of Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry said.
Kyrgyzstan was rocked by massive protests in early April, with more than 80 people killed as an interim government took power and Bakiyev fled the capital and then the country. His supporters later hit back at the new authorities in an attempt to regain power. Several people were killed and scores were injured in new wave of violence.
"Considering the difficult social and economic situation in Kyrgyzstan and taking into account multiple calls from the people of our friendly country, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has ordered the government to lift all temporary limitations on the Kazakh-Kyrgyz state border," a statement from the ministry said.
The ministry said, however, that the work of border, customs and migration bodies will be tightened.
On Wednesday, the prime minister of Kyrgyzstan's provisional government was given presidential authority until elections are held in the country.
The government adopted a decree delegating power to an interim president until December 31, 2011. The document named interim Roza Otunbayeva as the provisional president, but also envisaged a nationwide referendum on the issue as an option.
ASTANA, May 19 (RIA Novosti)
