Kuwait asks citizens to leave Kazakhstan amid turmoil

Non-essential US consular staff also cleared to leave city of Almaty after violent protests

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  Police block a street leading to the official presidential residence in Kazakhstan's capital Nur-Sultan, after protests against the government. Reuters

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  Protesters gather in a square outside an administration office in Aktau, capital of the resource-rich Mangistau region in Kazakhstan. AFP

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  A burnt-out digger destroyed in protests triggered by fuel price increases, in Kazakhstan's trading and cultural hub Almaty. Reuters

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  A man stands in front of the mayor's office building that was torched during protests in Almaty. Police there have reported killing dozens of rioters since Wednesday. Reuters

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  Burnt-out cars in central Almaty. Authorities said at least 18 members of the security forces have been killed in the violence in the city. AFP

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  A fire truck destroyed in the protests, in front of the presidential residence in Almaty. Reuters

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  A man walks past a car that was overturned and destroyed during the protests in Almaty. Reuters

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  Smoke billows from the Kazakhstan state TV channel building, which was torched during protests in Almaty. Reuters

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  Russian military vehicles wait to be loaded on to military aircraft at an airfield outside Moscow, to fly to Kazakhstan. They are part of an alliance of former Soviet states being sent to control the uprising. AP

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  Russian military vehicles wait to be loaded on to a military cargo plane Chkalovsky airbase, outside Moscow, as part of a force heading to Kazakhstan. AFP

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  A Russian military plane with Belarusian troops on board waits to take off from an airfield outside Minsk, Belarus, to fly to Kazakhstan. AP

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  Russian paratroopers board a military plane at Chkalovsky airbase, headed for Kazakhstan. AFP

The Kuwaiti embassy in Kazakhstan has asked Kuwaitis to leave "for their safety" after violent protests in the Central Asian country over the past week.

Th embassy also urged Kuwaitis to postpone plans to travel to Kazakhstan because of the "emergency status" in the country, state news agency Kuna reported.

Protests caused by an increase in fuel prices on January 1 swelled into a broad movement against the government and former leader Nursultan Nazarbayev – widely regarded as the man who still holds sway over Kazakh politics despite handing power to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev three years ago.

Dozens of protesters and members of security forces were killed during two days of violent protests in Almaty, the largest city. The situation was reported to have been calmer on Friday after Russian troops arrived in Kazakhstan as part of a regional force.

Kuwaiti airline Jazeera airways suspended flights to Almaty on Thursday, along with flydubai and Air Arabia.

Meanwhile, the US said it approved the voluntary departure of non-emergency US government employees and family members from the consulate general in Almaty.

"US citizens in Kazakhstan should be aware that violent protests may severely impact the US Embassy’s ability to provide consular services, including assistance to US citizens departing Kazakhstan," the State Department said on Friday.