Kazakh defence minister resigns after 15 die in arms depot blasts


FILE PHOTO: Kazakh Defence Minister Nurlan Yermekbayev attends military exercises held by assault troops at a firing ground in Almaty Region, Kazakhstan April 12, 2019. REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev/File Photo

ALMATY (Reuters) - Kazakh Defence Minister Nurlan Yermekbayev resigned on Tuesday, the office of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said, days after a fire and a series of blasts at an arms depot killed 15 soldiers and firefighters.

Dozens of people were wounded by the blasts which forced the authorities to evacuate nearby settlements in Kazakhstan's southern Zhambyl province on Aug. 26. The cause of the fire remains unclear. [L1N2PY0C6]

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