Kazakhstan unrest: Almaty mayor's office stormed in protest - BBC News

Anti-government protesters in Kazakhstan's main city, Almaty, have stormed the mayor's office on a second day of protests over fuel prices.

Thousands of people took to the streets on Wednesday despite a state of emergency in some areas.

On Tuesday the president dismissed the government and said lower fuel prices would be restored.

Protests are rare in the oil-rich former Soviet country, which is tightly controlled by the government.

In Almaty police fired stun grenades and tear gas at a crowd of several thousand protesters, but were unable to stop them from entering the mayor's office, AFP reports.

The city's police chief, Kanat Taimerdenov, said "extremists and radicals" had attacked 500 civilians and ransacked hundreds of businesses.

There are also reports that crowds have gathered near official buildings elsewhere in the country. 

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• Kazakh president blames government for protests - TASS

• Over 200 people detained in Kazakhstan for public order violations — interior ministry - TASS