Kazakh Unrest Sparks Questions Over Stability -- CNN
(CNN) -- Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev fired his son-in-law Tuesday from a government job, state media reported, 10 days after violent unrest broke out in the Central Asian country.
His decision to sack Timur Kulibayev, who managed a sovereign wealth fund, comes amid questions over the oil-rich nation's stability ahead of parliamentary and local elections next month.
A 20-day state of emergency was declared on December 17 in the city of Zhanaozen after clashes between police and striking oil workers left at least 14 people dead and 80 injured, state-run news agency Kazinform said.
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More News On The Unrest In Kazakhstan
Deadly riots challenge Kazakhstan stability -- AP
Kazakhstan: President Fires Son-in-Law -- New York Times
Kazakh president bans ministers from celebrating New Year abroad -- RIA Novosti
Kazakh leader changes wealth fund head after riots -- Reuters
My Comment: The following paragraph from AP sums up why Kazakhstan is important ....
.... Instability in Kazakhstan could have far-reaching consequences. It is an increasingly important source of oil and gas, as well as uranium, zinc and copper. The Northern Distribution Network that supplies U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan goes through the Central Asian country's seemingly endless stretches of bleak steppe.
My Comment: With Pakistan`s supply routes now closed to NATO forces, a closure in Kazakhstan would guarantee a drawdown in U.S./NATO operations in Afghanistan.
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