Security at China's Torugart border pass with Kyrgyzstan remained tight on Monday, but traffic was moving in and out following the political turmoil that led to the fall of President Askar Akayev. Dozens of transport trucks on the road to and from the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek were rolling through the border checkpoint, but the route to the opposition stronghold of Osh remained closed, border guards said. "This is not a good time to be going over the border because of the situation in Kyrgyzstan, but still there are a lot of transport trucks coming and going," said a border guard named Zhao.
The Torugart border was closed as usual for the weekend, while the pass to Osh was shut indefinitely on Friday as Akayev fled Bishkek after rioting and protest marches erupted over disputed parliamentary elections.
The border checkpoint is some 80 kilometers (48 miles) from the actual border.
Local traders and truckers from nearby Kashgar in China were allowed to cross Monday, while a steady stream of trucks from Kyrgyzstan drove into the checkpoint where police carefully examined papers and cargos.
However, tourists hoping to visit the more than 3,000 meter (9,300 foot) high pass were not being allowed through.
"The border is open, but you can't go up there," Zhao said.
According to the state-run Wen Hui Bao, some 400 Chinese nationals in Biskek were expected to be evacuated on Tuesday after Chinese-owned shops, many run by ethnic Uighur Muslims from the Kashgar region, were looted during the rioting.
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