Zhanaozen, Kazakhstan - A number of people have been apprehended on suspicion of organizing riots in the town of Zhanaozen in the Mangystau region of Kazakhstan.
"Eight people have been arrested. Five people have been detained on suspicion of organization of mass unrest in Zhanaozen," town commandant Amanzhol Kabylov said at a news conference in Zhanaozen on Wednesday.
"I want to stress once again that we have 14 corpses and 99 people having various injuries. The information about 55 [fatalities] has not been confirmed," he said.
It was reported earlier that 14 people were killed and 86 injured in the December 16 riots in Zhanaozen.
"A large amount of firearms were seized during the investigative activities. The investigative team from the prosecution agencies is possessing all proofs," he said.
Asked to comment on a video circulated through the Internet, in which policemen are shooting at people who are running away, Kabylov said this video is being examined by investigators from the Kazakh Interior Ministry’s internal security department.
