"The Bush's" Favorite Country to Contract Torture Too, Takes a Lesson From "The Bush"

Uzbekistan Denies Killing Civilians, Criticises Media

Uzbekistan has dismissed witness reports that soldiers opened fire on civilians during a rebellion in the eastern town of Andijan.

It has also accused Western media of portraying the country as a tyranny.

"Not a single civilian was killed by government forces there," prosecutor-general Rashid Kadyrov said.

Mr Kadyrov puts the overall death toll at 169, including 32 servicemen.

He says reports by witnesses and human rights groups, some of whom put the death toll at up to 500, are "deliberate attempts to deceive the international community".

President Islam Karimov, who abruptly joined the news conference while Mr Kadyrov was speaking, has criticised Western and Russian media for biased reporting.

"There is a broad campaign in the media, especially in the Western media, to be ahead of events... and to show that Uzbekistan is a tyranny, that in Uzbekistan they shoot innocent people," Mr Karimov said, raising his voice.

"Who would shoot at people who do not have weapons?

"There are no such people in any government in the world."

This from the Guy who Boils People.