Kazakhstan arrests spy 'planning attack' on president

Kazakhstan's security services said Sunday they have arrested a foreignspyallegedly plotting anattackagainst thepresidentand other high-level officials.

"A foreignintelligenceagent, a Kazakh citizen, was arrestedonMarch 25 in Nur-Sultan by the counter-espionageservices," the National Security Committee said in a statement.

The suspect "wasplanninganattackagainst thepresidentofKazakhstanand a number of high-level officials," as well as against members of the special services and security forces, the statement said.

A foreign-made gun, drugs and large sums of money had been found during a search of his home.

Watch |Kazakhstan President Tokayev rejects calls for an international probe into a crisis that killed 200

The statement added the suspect had confessed after his arrest and a terrorism investigation had been opened.

Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic and Central Asia's richest country, descended into violence in early January when peaceful protests over a fuel price hike unravelled into bloody clashes and looting.

More than 200 died andPresidentKassym-Jomart Tokayev called in troops from a Russia-led security bloc to re-establish control.

Kazakhstanframed the violence as anattackby "terrorist groups" and has criticised foreign media coverage of the events.