Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan agree ceasefire after border clashes

Protesters hold a rally to demand of authorities to hand over weapons to volunteers willing to support residents of Kyrgyzstan's southern Batken province following clashes with Tajik troops, near the government house in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, May 1, 2021. REUTERS/Vladimir Pirogov

BISHKEK (Reuters) -Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan agreed what they called a complete ceasefire on Saturday after reports of fresh shooting and troop build-ups in the aftermath of border clashes earlier this week that killed 49 people.

The heads of the countries' state security bodies announced the agreement in a joint briefing in Kyrgyzstan hours after Kyrgyzstan's border guard service said Tajik troops opened fire on Kyrgyz vehicles on their side of the border.