Kyrgyzstan president leads 30th anniversary parade

Kyrgyzstan celebrated the 30th anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union on Tuesday with a parade in central Bishkek.

The procession in the Central Asian nation's capital involved military vehicles, tanks, artillery and Special Forces equipment. Over 2,000 people took part in the event.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov said "the most important aim is to reinforce the weapons and military equipment of the Kyrgyz army and to improve combat efficiency of our military". Kyrgyzstan's Declaration of State Independence was passed on August 31, 1991.