Some Russian media and individual opposition journalists also criticised the developments.

"They really scared people last night," said Mohsen Sazegara, an opposition journalist.

And the Kremlin allegedly uses them to beat up opposition journalists.

Two opposition journalists were attacked in July 2004.

She said the attackers slapped her after someone said she was an "opposition journalist."

At least four youths and five police officers were injured, an opposition journalist said.

It was true for opposition journalists as well as for politicians.

Harassment of opposition journalists is increasingly common in Kazakhstan.

Ethnic Mari civil servants have lost their jobs, and opposition journalists suffer persecution, as do the independent, private media.

The widespread practice of harassment, persecution and conviction of opposition journalists is alarming.