The authorities in Kyrgyzstan have declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew in the second city of Osh and several other nearby towns.This follows an outbreak of violence which has left at least 12 people dead and more than a hundred injured. According to local reports, fighting broke out between rival gangs of youngmen and developed into gun battles. Armored vehicles have been sent in to stabilize the situation after hundreds of youths smashed windows, looted shops and set fire to cars in the city.