An Uzbek border guard was killed and another seriously injured in an exchange of fire across the Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan border Tuesday.
According to Kyrgyzstan's border service, the incident occurred around 10:25 a.m. local time when a border guard detail comprised of three servicemen detected two Uzbek border guards who "illegally intruded into Kyrgyzstan's territory."
In response to a demand to leave the republic's territory, the Uzbek border guards started a "verbal argument that subsequently developed into a clash," a representative of the Kyrgyz border service told RIA Novosti.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's State Border Protection Committee said the incident happened on Uzbek soil and demanded an explanation from Kyrgyzstan over the shooting, according to a statement by the State Border Protection Committee, a copy of which was obtained by RIA Novosti.