The Kyrgyz interim leader has asked for Russian peacekeepers to help stop ethnic violence in the south of the country, a government spokesman confirmed on Saturday.
Kyrgyz interim government's press officer Farid Niyazov said the country's leader, Roza Otunbayeva, announced that an official request for the assistance be sent to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
"The situation has got out of control since yesterday evening and we need outside military forces to solve the situation, so, we are turning to Russia," Niyazov quoted Otunbayeva as saying.
"We are waiting for news from Russia and we are ready for active dialogue to bring outside forces in."