URGENT: According to preliminary data 10 died in Zhanaozen riots

ASTANA. December 16. KAZINFORM /Kanat Kulshmanov/ "According to preliminary data, 10 people were killed, some were injured, including police officers in mass riots in the town of Zhanaozen," Kazakh Prosecutor General Askhat Daulbayev told a special briefing in Astana.

"Today, December 16, mass riots took place in the town of Zhanaozen in Mangystau region as a result of criminal actions of a group of persons. Civilians gathered on the central square to celebrate the 20th anniversary of independence of Kazakhstan were attacked by the group of persons.

Refusing to give up themselves the hooligans made an attack on law enforcement officers.

They turned the New Year tee upside down, destroyed yurts and the stage, burnt out the police bus. Besides, they beat the civilians and demolished the cars parked near the square.

The town administration and hotel buildings, administrative building of Ozenmunaigas were set on fire.

Under the instruction of the Head of State an investigation and operational group with Kazakh Interior Minister Kalmukhamed Kassymov in charge left for Zhanaozen to take necessary measures to suppress criminal actions and assess the penalty to the organizers of the mass disorders, and to restore public safety," he said.