Kyrgyzstan does not have sufficient budget funds to allow it to rebuild for free homes that were destroyed during violence in the south of the country in June, a deputy prime minister said on Saturday.

Fighting between Kyrgyz and ethnic Uzbeks in the city of Osh and surrounding areas killed some 300 people, according to official estimates, with the unofficial death toll topping 2,000.

Some 3,000 homes were also destroyed, with tens of thousands of people left homeless. The authorities have supplied temporary housing.

“The state is not in a position to build for free housing for those people who suffered…during June’s tragic events,” Zhantoro Satybaldiev said in a live address on national television, citing the country’s “massive” budget deficit.

Satybaldiev also said that forces seeking the “destabilization” of the Central Asian state were urging people not to accept government loans of up to $4,500 for the rebuilding of homes. He also admitted however that there were problems with the issuing of the loans due to many people lacking documents confirming their ownership of the homes that were destroyed.

Kyrgyzstan has accused former leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev of being behind this summer’s violence. He has denied the claims. Bakiyev was toppled during violent street protests this April. He later fled to Belarus.

BISHKEK, August 28 (RIA Novosti)