国际英语新闻：Clinton, Lavrov voice concern over situation in Kyrgyzstan

WASHINGTON, June 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov on Sunday held a phone discussion over Kyrgyz situation, sharing concern over the recent violence in the country, said the State Department.

The two top diplomats reviewed developments in Kyrgyzstan and " stressed their shared concern over the recent violence and continuing interethnic tensions," said State Department spokesman Philip Crowley in a statement.

"The ministers agreed that the issue of the upcoming referendum is the sovereign decision of Kyrgyzstan to make and agreed to encourage the authorities of Kyrgyzstan to conduct it according to international standards with the monitoring support of OSCE and others," said the spokesman.

Kyrgyzstan's interim government, which took power after a violent uprising in April, has planned to hold a referendum on June 27 in an attempt to make its rule legitimized.

The referendum, however, could further worsen the situation in the southern Kyrgyzstan, where the ethnic clashes broke out in mid- June have left some 190 people dead, and 300,000 people displaced.

The government has declared to extend a state of emergency in the southern city of Osh and other areas to June 25, and has also introduced new regulations, under which the referendum could be canceled if the country remains in the state of emergency.

The United States and Russia will coordinate their humanitarian assistance and other support to Kyrgyzstan to "help its authorities restore security, stability, and reconciliation among all citizens of Kyrgyzstan," said Crowley.