Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said on Friday (January 7) he had given shoot-to-kill orders to deal with further disturbances from those he called bandits and terrorists, adding that those who failed to surrender would be "destroyed."
He said as part of the "counter-terrorist" operation, he had ordered law enforcement agencies and the army "to shoot to kill without warning."
"The militants have not laid down their arms, they continue to commit crimes or are preparing for them. The fight against them must be pursued to the end. Whoever does not surrender will be destroyed," Tokayev said on state television. He dismissed calls to hold talks with protesters. "What stupidity. What kind of talks can we hold with criminal and murderers?" he said.
Tokayev thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of China, Uzbekistan and Turkey for their assistance.
He said peacekeeping forces sent from Russia and neighboring states had arrived on Kazakhstan's request and were in the country on a temporary basis to ensure security.