Officials in Kyrgyzstan say more than 400 inmates have sewn their lips shut to protest living conditions in prison.

Authorities said Tuesday prisoners in at least two jails in the Central Asian country are taking part in the protest and are refusing to take food.

Inmates in Kyrgyz prisons have staged uprisings and hunger strikes in recent years to protest living conditions and poor treatment.

Kyrgyzstan hosts an important U.S. air base that serves as a link supplying U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan.