BISHKEK: Kyrgyz authorities have arrested an alleged member of a regional militant Islamic group linked to Al Qaeda, prompting a protest by his supporters, the Interior Ministry said Friday. Atabek Abdumomunov, 32, a suspected member of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan who was wanted by the neighbouring countryÂ’s authorities since 2001 for his alleged involvement in bombings, was arrested in his home town of Uzgen by Kyrgyz security officers on Thursday, the ministryÂ’s press office said. Officers also seized a sawn-off rifle, a handmade pistol, bullets and CDs, video and audio tapes with religious content in Arabic at his home, the Ministry said.
About 20 of the suspectÂ’s relatives and supporters protested his arrest for several hours outside the regional administration building demanding his release, the Osh regional police department said. |