The new outbreak of violence in Kyrgyzstan shows the need to create effective response mechanisms within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon said on Friday.
"What happened [in Kyrgyzstan] once again proves the necessity to create effective SCO response mechanisms," Rakhmon told a SCO summit in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent.
"It is clear that today we must all help our neighbors towards a speedy restoration of law and order," he added.
The SCO includes Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Riots broke out in the city of Osh on Thursday night, reportedly after a fight between locals and members of the city's Uzbek population.
The death toll from the clashes is now put at 17, with over 200 injured.
Clashes have become commonplace in Kyrgyzstan since the violent overthrow of the republic's government and president in early April.
TASHKENT, June 11 (RIA Novosti)
