DUSHANBE, October 21, 2009, Asia-Plus – Kyrgyz authorities plan to create an additional checkpoint along the country''s southern border with Tajikistan, RFE/RL''s Kyrgyz Service reported on October 20.

The commander of the Kyrgyz border guards brigade in Kyrgyzstan''s Kojo-Karym region, Saitjan Eratov, told RFE/RL the new checkpoint would help border guards take the complex and mountainous part of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border in the Batken district under stricter control.

Last week, on October 14, an armed group entered Kyrgyz territory from neighboring Tajikistan and opened fire on Kyrgyz border guards.

The group fled to the mountains and managed to escape.

They are believed to be hiding in the Tajik enclave of Vorukh, and Kyrgyz troops continue to search for them.