The Russian Defense Ministry sent on Sunday an additional 150 paratroopers to enhance security at Russia's airbase in Kyrgyzstan following deadly ethnic clashes in the country's south, the ministry's official spokesman said.
The paratroopers are to provide security to Russian officers serving at the Kant base, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) outside the capital, Bishkek, and their families, Alexei Kuznetsov said.
He said the troops are also ordered to reinforce security at other Russian Defense Ministry's facilities in Kyrgyzstan.
About 100 people were killed in Kyrgyzstan as ethnic riots swept through the country's second-largest city of Osh and another southern city of Jalalabad on Friday and Saturday.
Hundreds of people were reported injured.
Kyrgyz and ethnic Uzbek groups set ablaze cars, crushed the stores and markets as well as the residential houses. The looters have been rampaging through the streets during the days of rioting.
The Kyrgyz interim authorities asked Russia for military help to stop the rioters, but Moscow refused on Saturday.
Earlier on Sunday, a state of emergency was introduced in the entire territory of the Jalalabad region.
A curfew has been introduced in the city of Osh and the neighboring Kara-Suu and Aravan districts.
The interim government has allowed police and the troops to shoot to kill in order to quench the riots and stop marauders.
MOSCOW, June 13 (RIA Novosti)
