Uzbekistan Rejects EU Criticism Of Andijon Trial

21 November 2005 -- Uzbekistan has rejected European Union criticism about the trial of 15 men convicted of organizing an uprising in the eastern city of Andijon, calling it "unprecedented political pressure."

The statement was posted today on the website of the Uzbek Embassy in Germany.

It came after the EU last week banned 12 Uzbek officials from entering the bloc for their involvement in quelling the May uprising. Last month, the EU also imposed an arms embargo on Uzbekistan and suspended a cooperation pact.

The Uzbek statement called the EU moves "politically motivated" and based on "groundless information of Western nongovernmental organizations and mass media that are waging a real information war."

Human rights groups say more than 700 mostly civilians were killed in the May uprising. The Uzbek government says 187 people died, mostly Islamic militants, and deny that troops fired on unarmed civilians.

(AP)