BISHKEK/TASHKENT. May 26 (Interfax-AVN) - The Kyrgyz-Uzbek border has fully been closed at the initiative of the Uzbek side, a source with the Kyrgyz Border Service told journalists, disclosing no reasons for the closing of the border.
An explosion allegedly occurred near the Khanabad checkpoint at the border of Uzbekistan's Andizhan region and Kyrgyzstan's Osh region in the early hours on Tuesday, local media reported. Uzbek soldiers closed roads to the Khanabad checkpoint and deployed additional posts after the incident, local media said.
The ferghana.ru website reported that all public places in Khanabad on the Uzbek side of the border have been closed. "There are reports that two special purpose groups have been present in the Andizhan region over the past two weeks. Residents of the Ferghana Valley report that these special purpose groups covered an operation to neutralize notorious extremists and terrorists," the website reports.
The Uzbek authorities have not yet commented on the reports.
The Uzbek presidential press service reported that Uzbek President Islam Karimov intends to visit Brazil on May 27 - 29 at the invitation of the Brazilian president.
The agenda of "the visit provides for discussions concerning the expansion and enhancement of bilateral cooperation and topical regional and international issues of mutual concerns," the press service said.
The parties are expected to sign a number of bilateral documents aimed at bilateral deepening interaction in a number of areas, it said.
On the way to Brazil, Karimov will stop over in Madrid, where he will meet with King Juan Carlos I of Spain, the press service also said.