Russia voices concern at Kyrgyz unrest

Russia said on Thursday it was highly concerned at the situation in Kyrgyzstan, where thousands of opposition supporters stormed the presidential administration building, apparently forcing embattled President Askar Akayev to flee the country.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko called for law and order to be restored, warning of the risk of violence.

"We are extremely concerned at the direction of events in Kyrgyzstan. In the current situation, it is of crucial importance that it is returned to the framework of the law," he said in a statement.

Yakovenko said it was essential to uphold Kyrgyzstan's constitution and to refrain from any acts that threatened civil peace and security.

Russia has an air base in Kyrgyzstan, a mountainous former Soviet republic in Central Asia where Akayev has been in power for the past 15 years.

Associated Press