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State of emergency prolonged in Kazakhstan's Zhanaozen

President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed the corresponding decree, his press service said on Wednesday

ASTANA, January 4 (Itar-Tass) — The state of emergency is prolonged in the city of Zhanaozen in western Kazakhstan, where unrest with the participation of workers of oil companies, who were earlier dismissed due to strikes, took place on December 16, during the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the republic's independence.

President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed the corresponding decree, his press service said on Wednesday.

"I decree to prolong the state of emergency within the city of Zhanaozen, the Mangistau region, imposed by the presidential decree on December 17, 2011, till 07:00 January 31, 2012," the president said in the document.

The government together with empowered state services is to take appropriate measures.

Earlier, the chairman of the government commission on Zhanaozen, Umirzak Shukeyev, said at the latest government meeting that the city's public asked to prolong the state of emergency, which was imposed till January 5.

In the mass disorders in Zhanaozen, 16 people were killed and scores were injured. More than 40 buildings were burnt up. Since the state of emergency was imposed in the city, a curfew has been in force, traffic is limited, rallies are banned and photo and video recording and the use of copying equipment are limited.