Kyrgyzstan: Uzbeks pull back from tense border area

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyz officials say Uzbekistan has pulled back troops and equipment from a contested area of the countries' border.

Tensions between the former Soviet Central Asian neighbors grew last week after Kyrgyzstan accused Uzbekistan of building up its military presence along the border after Kyrgyzstan moved to regain control of a water reservoir in a contested region.

The move led to concerns about a rising potential for violence. Ethnic tension between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz has simmered for years. In 2010, at least 400 people died in ethnic clashes in the Kyrgyz city of Osh.

The Kyrgyz State Border Service reported Saturday that Uzbekistan had pulled back from the Chalasart area of the disputed border.

Some 300 kilometers (190 miles) of the border has never been clearly demarcated.