Thousands of Uzbek refugees from Kyrgyzstan's recent ethnic bloodshed trekked back across the Uzbek border to burned-out homes on Tuesday.
 
Their future is uncertain, before a June 27 vote on how the country will be governed.

A quarter of the 400,000 ethnic Uzbeks who fled the violence earlier had streamed across the border into Uzbekistan.

People on either side of the barbed-wire fence separating the Central Asian countries were weeping and hugging relatives on their return.

[Altynai Badalova, Refugee Teacher]:
"We cried tears of blood, simply because we were born Uzbeks in Kyrgyzstan. Because of this tragedy we had to flee to Uzbekistan, and the Uzbek people stood as one to help us. Now I'm proud to be an Uzbek. Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov is not only the father of Uzbeks in Uzbekistan but in the whole world. We don't feel as orphans any more, we are not alone."

Three days of killing began on June 10, when coordinated attacks by unidentified individuals in ski masks quickly led to fierce fighting between ethnic Uzbeks and Kyrgyz, who comprise a roughly equal share of the population in southern Kyrgyzstan.

Mainly Uzbek households were targeted and many locals have said state troops did little to protect them and in some cases they even took part in the assaults.  

The United States and Russia, both operating military air bases in Kyrgyzstan, are concerned the unrest could spread to other parts of Central Asia.
   
Uzbek military officials say about 5,000 refugees crossed back into Kyrgyzstan voluntarily on Tuesday. A Kyrgyz border guard estimated 4,000 crossed, plus another 2,000 on Monday.

[Barnokhon, Social Worker]:       
"I think every person always feels best when at home, in his home, in his home country. That is why we wish them luck and may the sky above them stay clear.”

As Kyrgyzstan's interim government prepares for a June 27 referendum on constitutional reform, many of those returning were unsure where to go.

Some huddled at the border, sheltering from the blazing sun, as they decided on their next move.

Many others decided to stay in the refugee camp where they get food and are safe from further violence.