Over 2,400 participants of civil unrest detained in Kazakhstan's Almaty - authorities

ALMATY - More than 2,400 participants of the civil unrest have been detained in the Kazakh city of Almaty since the start of the counterterrorist operation, the city commandant's office said on Saturday.

"A total of 2,402 participants of illegal rallies, looting and other crimes have been detained," reported Sputnik quoting the statement of commandant's office, adding that the security forces had seized many weapons and ammunition.

Meanwhile, the news agency citing the Russian Defence ministry reported all Russian peacekeepers deployed to Kazakhstan as part of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation mission have returned to home turf aboard 10 military planes.

"All 10 aircraft with Russian peacekeepers from the Collective Peacekeeping Forces of the CSTO arrived from Kazakhstan at the Severny [Ivanovo] airfield," the ministry said in a statement.--Bernama