Protests And Unrest Escalate In Kazakhstan

The protests were initially sparked by the lifting of a price cap on fuel — nearly doubling the prices for liquefied gas.

The presidential residence in Kazakhstan's largest city Almaty was engulfed in flames on Wednesday and armed protesters stormed another government building, according to news reports, as demonstrations sparked by a rise in fuel prices escalated sharply.

In response to the protests in cities across the country, the government resigned and the president vowed to take harsh measures to quell the unrest.

Late in the day, Kazakh news sites became inaccessible, and the global watchdog organization Netblocks said the country was experiencing a pervasive internet blackout.