Armed conflict on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have traded blame for fighting on their border that has killed at least 24 people, wounded dozens, and prompted a mass evacuation.

Kyrgyzstan’s health ministry said early on Saturday that 24 bodies had been delivered to hospitals in the Batken region that borders Tajikistan.

An additional 87 people were wounded, the ministry said.

Clashes on the border that began earlier this week grew into large-scale fighting on Friday involving tanks, artillery and rocket launchers.

As part of the shelling, Tajik forces struck the regional capital, Batken, with rockets.

-Al Jazeera