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Kyrgyz police move in on gold mine protesters Kyrgyz police move in on gold mine protesters
(about 3 hours later)
There have been angry clashes in Kyrgyzstan as hundreds of police moved in to disperse a protest over a valuable Canadian-owned gold mine. There have been angry clashes in Kyrgyzstan after hundreds of police moved in to disperse a protest over a valuable Canadian-owned gold mine.
About 1,000 people have been camped out for days calling for a bigger share of the profits from the Kumtor mine, owned by Canada's Centerra Gold group.About 1,000 people have been camped out for days calling for a bigger share of the profits from the Kumtor mine, owned by Canada's Centerra Gold group.
Police surrounding protesters used tear gas as they threw stones, reports said. The government has now declared a state of emergency around the gold mine.
Kumtor Gold says it has paid over $1bn (£660m) in taxes since it was formed and spends millions on social projects. The mining group says it has paid $1bn (£660m) in taxes since it was formed and spends millions on social projects.
The government and Kumtor Gold have warned that output could be affected if the situation is not resolved. In a statement, the government also promised to work towards a bigger share of revenue for the country. The government and Kumtor Gold, a subsidiary of Centerra Gold, have warned that output could be affected if the situation is not resolved. In a statement, the government also promised to work towards a bigger share of revenue for the country.
A BBC Kyrgyz correspondent at the scene says there have been injuries on both sides and that more than 1,000 people have blocked the main road to Bishkek, with many demanding to see the president or prime minister. A BBC Kyrgyz correspondent at the scene says there have been injuries on both sides and more than 1,000 people have blocked the main road to Bishkek, with many demanding to see the president or prime minister.
Police reportedly fired tear gas at the protesters, who pelted special forces with stones, reports said.
A criminal case has also been opened against those who damaged the power supply, under a new law criminalising the occupation of government buildings and enterprises. Protesters had seized an electricity station in an effort to cut power to the mine.A criminal case has also been opened against those who damaged the power supply, under a new law criminalising the occupation of government buildings and enterprises. Protesters had seized an electricity station in an effort to cut power to the mine.
Biggest tax-payerBiggest tax-payer
At 4,000 metres above sea level Kumtor, in the country's Issy-kuil region, is one of the highest gold mines in the world, situated in the permafrost of the Tien Shan mountains of China and Central Asia.At 4,000 metres above sea level Kumtor, in the country's Issy-kuil region, is one of the highest gold mines in the world, situated in the permafrost of the Tien Shan mountains of China and Central Asia.
Its economic importance for one of the region's poorest countries is enormous, with the mine accounting for 12% of Kyrgyzstan's GDP and more than half of all its exports in 2011.Its economic importance for one of the region's poorest countries is enormous, with the mine accounting for 12% of Kyrgyzstan's GDP and more than half of all its exports in 2011.
But a state commission, which was formed to re-assess the mining deal struck with Canada's Centerra Gold in 2009, says the company is paying too little.But a state commission, which was formed to re-assess the mining deal struck with Canada's Centerra Gold in 2009, says the company is paying too little.
There have also been calls for the outright nationalisation of the mine among the array of demands set out by protesters.There have also been calls for the outright nationalisation of the mine among the array of demands set out by protesters.
In Kumtor Gold's detailed response to the grievances aired it added that despite being the largest tax-payer in the country and funding many projects, it could not be expected to solve all of Kyrgyzstan's problems.In Kumtor Gold's detailed response to the grievances aired it added that despite being the largest tax-payer in the country and funding many projects, it could not be expected to solve all of Kyrgyzstan's problems.
But analysts say that the current stand-off is the latest in a series of disputes which have piled pressure on parent company Centerra Gold and the Kyrgyz government, worried it might deter foreign investors.But analysts say that the current stand-off is the latest in a series of disputes which have piled pressure on parent company Centerra Gold and the Kyrgyz government, worried it might deter foreign investors.