BISHKEK, 11 Jan 2005 (IRIN) - Kyrgyzstan is known as an island of gay tolerance in an otherwise oppressive region. Some gay people come here from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, where homosexuality is punishable by law, in search of a more favourable and accepting environment. The number of gay and lesbian groups in the country is growing as a consequence. Full report

BISHKEK, 5 Jan 2005 (IRIN) - Most observers equate the persistence of tuberculosis (TB) in Kyrgyzstan with high levels of poverty. "TB, by its nature, is a social disease, and its the reduction depends not only on medical treatment but also on how well poverty is alleviated," the deputy director of the National Centre of Physiology (NCP), the institute responsible for the fight against TB, Myrzahat Imanaliev, told IRIN. Full report

OSH, 29 Dec 2004 (IRIN) - "I do not want to move to another place. My parents were born here, I was born here and so were my children. I hope everything will be fine." So said an elderly man in Korol village in the Alai district of Osh region, where 250 families continue to live under the threat of landslides. Full report

BISHKEK, 28 Dec 2004 (IRIN) - Farmers in the south of Kyrgyzstan have organically produced their first 24 mt of cotton fibre. Organic agriculture is predicted to take off by 2006, allowing local farmers to increase their standard of living while at the same time protect the environment. Full report

BISHKEK, 6 Dec 2004 (IRIN) - Sergey, 30, has had a difficult time since he started taking heroin over eight years ago. Like many other addicts he has tried to quit numerous times, even undergoing addiction treatment at the Republican Narcology Centre (RCN) in the capital, Bishkek, but he cannot resist new hits of the drug. Full report

ANKARA, 2 Dec 2004 (IRIN) - Civic activists in Kyrgyzstan are upbeat about the return of Tursunbek Akunov, a prominent human rights activist who went missing earlier this month, but are urging the authorities to thoroughly investigate the case. Full report

BISHKEK, 1 Dec 2004 (IRIN) - United Nations agencies marked World AIDS Day on Wednesday by recognising the work of HIV/AIDS organisations in Kyrgyzstan through special awards. On the same day, the US Embassy in Bishkek donated medical equipment to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Health to help its work with people living with HIV/AIDS. Full report

NARYN, 29 Nov 2004 (IRIN) - An unreliable state healthcare system led rural people in the central Kyrgyz province of Naryn three years ago to start local committees to tackle health problems. The practice, which began in Jumgal district, has now been replicated in almost every village in the province. Full report

ANKARA, 24 Nov 2004 (IRIN) - A new Asian Development Bank (ADB) project on road rehabilitation in Kyrgyzstan aims to promote regional trade and reduce poverty in the country by boosting economic growth. Full report

OSH, 24 Nov 2004 (IRIN) - Demining of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border is bringing hope to parts of the local population, hope of a new life without fear, along with economic benefits that have been denied them since 1999, when the area was first mined. Full report

KYRGYZSTAN: Focus on gay and lesbian rights

KYRGYZSTAN-UZBEKISTAN: Demining around Uzbek enclaves brings hope to impoverished villagers

KYRGYZSTAN: Focus on gold mining in west

KYRGYZSTAN: Interview with UNDP Resident Representative

KYRGYZSTAN: Focus on illegal coal mining in the south