Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China to hold antiterrorist exercise

An antiterrorist exercise for armed forces of member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is taking place in Kazakhstan and China between August 6 and 12.

The first stage of the exercise, entitled Interaction-2003, will be taking place in Kazakhstan's Semipalatinsk region, reported a source in the Kyrgyz Defence Ministry. The purpose of this stage is to drill joint actions to seal off and eliminate international terrorist groupings.

The second stage will be held in China and will see the armed forces of China and Kyrgyzstan destroying an international terrorist camp and liberating hostages.

The exercise involves an operations group of the Defence Ministry of Kyrgyzstan and the country's landing reconnaissance platoon, as well as military aviation from Kazakhstan.