Kyrgyzstan troops kill 3 suspected terror group members in southern shootout

Kyrgyzstan troops kill 3 suspected terrorists

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — Kyrgyzstan security services say soldiers killed three suspected members of a terrorist group in a shootout over the weekend.

Saturday’s clash was the latest in a series of gunbattles that experts say may be evidence of militants fleeing security operations in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The State Security Ministry said Monday that troops met heavy resistance after surrounding a house in the southern Osh region. The ministry said the militants belonged to the Islamic Jihad Group, which has been blamed for bombings in neighboring Uzbekistan.

Authorities last week said they killed five suspected Islamic militants outside the western city of Jalal-Abad. At least one security forces officer was also killed.