Large areas of the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan have been left without gas because of debts to its main supplier.

Kyrgyz government officials told the Russian Tass news agency that neighbouring Uzbekistan had stopped the gas supplies because of debts estimated at nearly half-a-billion dollars.

Practically all homes in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, and other towns in the north of the country have been left without gas.

People are reported to be trying to keep warm by making bonfires in sub-zero temperatures.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service