Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have traded blame for fighting on their border that has killed at least 24 people, wounded dozens, and prompted a mass evacuation.
\nAccording to international media, Kyrgyzstan\u2019s health ministry said early on Saturday that 24 bodies had been delivered to hospitals in the Batken region that borders Tajikistan.
\nAn additional 87 people were wounded, the ministry said.
\nClashes on the border that began earlier this week grew into large-scale fighting on Friday involving tanks, artillery and rocket launchers.
\nAs part of the shelling, Tajik forces struck the regional capital, Batken, with rockets.
\nKyrgyzstan\u2019s emergencies ministry said 136,000 people were evacuated from the area engulfed by the fighting.
\nIt was not immediately clear what prompted the fighting on the tense border between the two former Soviet Central Asian neighbours.
\nAn attempt to establish a ceasefire quickly failed on Friday and artillery shelling resumed later in the day.
\nBorder guard chiefs of the two countries met at about midnight and agreed to create a joint monitoring group work to help end hostilities. It was not immediately clear whether the meeting had any effect on the fighting.
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