Turkish delegation meets with Kyrgyz officials

A delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Undersecretary Hakki Akil yesterday met with Kyrgyz officials in Bishkek, including Amangeldi Muraliev, the first deputy prime minister of Kyrgyzstan's interim government. A statement from Bishkek said that Turkey had sent five planes to the country in the last four months and would extend $21 million in aid, adding that Muraliev thanked the Turkish government and people for their assistance. The delegation also met with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev. Today the delegation is set to visit the provinces of Osh and Jalalabad, where violence between ethnic Kyrgyz people and Uzbeks in June left at least 180 dead and 1,900 wounded. The people of Kyrgyzstan approved a new constitution in a June 27 referendum after an interim government led by former Foreign Minister Roza Otunbaeva came to power in April following anti-government protests that toppled the president, whom the opposition accused of usurping power.