BISHKEK. Jan 24 (Interfax) - Seventy-four rail tank cars are unable to reach southern Kyrgyzstan as Uzbekistan has closed down railroad checkpoints on the border, head of the Kyrgyz Petroleum Traders Association Zhumakadyr Akeneyev told Interfax on Thursday.
The cars have been stranded for six days, he said.
"We take precautions in winter and supply fuel by rail because mountain passes are covered with snow," the Association head said.
In all, about 600 rail cars carrying construction materials, foods and other commodities have been trapped, Akeneyev said.
"The provision of southern areas is not threatened so far because they have 40-day supply of fuel and lubricants. We will ask the government to enlarge the number of trucks to transport fuel to the south," Akeneyev said.
The Kyrgyz Border Service reported that Uzbekistan unilateral closed railroad checkpoints Kyzyl-Kiya, Kara-Suu, Jalal-Abad and Shamaldysai on January 21, 2013.
"Negotiations are underway on the date when cargo will be let pass to our republic and humanitarian aid will be delivered to the Barak exclave," a source at the Kyrgyz State Border Service told Interfax.