OIC calls to stop violence in Kazakhstan

JEDDAH, Jan 7 -- The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) called for restraint and ceasing of violence to overcome the current crisis in Kazakhstan, expressing its regret over the violent incidents that led to the death of many victims and the destruction of public property.

According to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Islamic world’s largest inter-governmental body followed up with great concern the developments of the situation in Kazakhstan, calling for maximum restraint and calm, renunciation of violence, safeguarding the national interest, and placing it above all considerations to overcome the current crisis.

The organisation’s General Secretariat affirmed its full solidarity with the government of Kazakhstan in preserving its sovereignty, security, stability and territorial integrity, and the national unity of the country.

Kazakhstan's government announced late Tuesday that it was restoring some price caps on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), after the rare protests reached Almaty following a sharp rise in the price of the fuel at the start of the year.

Many Kazakhs have converted their cars to run on LPG, which is far cheaper than gasoline as a vehicle fuel in Kazakhstan because of price caps. But the government argued that the low price was unsustainable and lifted the caps on Jan 1.

After the price of the fuel spiked, big demonstrations erupted on Monday (Jan 2) in certain parts of the country. Public protests are illegal in the country unless their organisers file a notice in advance.

-- BERNAMA