EU voices concern at Uzbekistan unrest

Local residents look at the bodies of the victims from the clashes between the government forces and local protesters on display at the central square in the Uzbek town of Andijan Saturday. Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov blamed Islamic extremists for the violence in the eastern city of Andijan and said about 30 people had been killed, but denied having ordered security forces to open fire on demonstrators. PHOTO: AFP

"The commission is closely following the situation in Uzbekistan. We are concerned by the outbreak of violence," a spokesman for the EU executive told AFP in response to the clashes that have left at least 50 people dead.

"The situation is also the result of the government's lack of regard for human rights and the rule of law," the spokesman added, calling for the crisis to be "resolved through to dialogue and reconciliation, not by force."

Two days of clashes between rebels and security forces in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijan have left 30 people dead according to authorities, more than 50 according to other sources.

The violence erupted late Thursday when a group of armed protestors overran government buildings and a prison in Andijan in protest at the trial of 23 businessmen accused of belonging to an outlawed Islamic group.

Protestors claim the charges were fabricated by the government of President Islam Karimov, which has been accused of using torture and arbitrary arrests of practising Muslims to crush opposition.

Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone Saturday with his counterpart in Uzbekistan and expressed Russia's "serious concern" about the danger of instability in former Soviet Central Asia, the Kremlin said.

Uzbekistan President "Islam Karimov informed the president of Russia on the developing situation in Andijan," the Kremlin said in a statement, referring to the city in eastern Uzbekistan where troops have cracked down on anti-government protests.

"Both sides expressed serious concern on the danger of the destabilisation of the situation in the Central Asian region," the Kremlin statement said.

The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact, it added.