BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Those in hiding from the regime ousted in a 2010 coup should be extradited back to Kyrgyzstan, the country's president announced.
An April 2010 coup in Kyrgyzstan forced President Kurmanbek Bakiyev to flee his stronghold in the south of the country to Belarus. At least 400 people were killed during June 2010 violence between Kyrgyz and ethnic Uzbeks in the southern regions of Osh and Jalal Abad in the aftermath of the coup.
Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying it was "extremely important" for former regime officials to return, adding "everyone hiding abroad (should) be extradited."
Human rights groups said reconciliation between the two main ethnic groups still faces serious challenges. Human Rights Watch last week said one of its researchers was assaulted during a trial tied to the April 2010 unrest.
The country is gearing up for elections scheduled for Oct. 30. Kyrgyz Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev leads a list of 20 candidates running for president.
Otunbayeva is ineligible to seek the presidency after her interim tenure expires Dec. 31.
