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Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan: Ten people were killed in clashes in Zhanaozen

16 December 2011 15:56 (UTC +04:00)

Violent clashes broke out on the townâ€™s central square when a group of men attacked police officers as the country marked the 20th anniversary of its independence.

Local media reports identified the attackers as employees of the state-controlled KazMunaiGas energy company.

Daulbayev said the violence erupted when a â€œgroup of hooligansâ€ attacked the police. Several people, including police officers, have been wounded, he said.

The building of the town administration, a local office of KazMunaiGasâ€™s subsidiary, OzenMunaiGas, a hotel and several cars have been set on fire in the unrest, he said.

K+ TV channel reports that internal troops are in Zhanaozen. According to witnesses, helicopters are flying over the city, all shops have been closed. President Nursultan Nazarbayev gave instructions to set up a special commission to investigate Zhanaozen unrests. Criminal case has been launched on the fact.