Uzbek uprising trials to proceed

Associated Press September 1 The United States has not changed its demand that international observers be allowed into Uzbekistan to monitor the investigation into a revolt last May that Uzbek troops put down with rifle fire, and the Uzbek government still is refusing, the State Department said Wednesday. "Look, we've been very clear that the Uzbek government needs to let in an international team, needs to be fully transparent in investigating and allowing an international investigation of what happened at Andijan," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. "We continue to call for them to allow an international investigation. To this point, they have not agreed to let an international investigation team in," he said. President Islam Karimov announced Wednesday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital, that the investigation is completed and the first trial will begin September 20. Karimov's government says it has arrested 80 people on suspicion of involvement in the uprising at Andijan, a restive city in eastern Uzbekistan. Karimov blamed the trouble on Islamic militants. He did not say how many will be tried. "The trial will ... be held in mid-September, on September 20," Karimov said in remarks broadcast over state radio. "The whole truth will be exposed there." Karimov spoke at a meeting to commemorate victims of political repression while Uzbekistan was a Soviet republic. Karimov was the last president of Soviet Uzbekistan and has been in power since March 1990. McCormack said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "has talked about the need for reform in Uzbekistan. Very basically, the Uzbekistan government needs to trust its people." Additionally, he said, "We have been very clear in our call for changes that allow more political freedoms, economic freedoms and respect for human rights." Human rights workers say the unrest at Andijan resulted from a lack of economic improvements and persecution of dissident Muslims. Protesters stormed a local prison and seized a government building. Government troops opened fire on the crowds, and rights workers say at least 700 people were killed. The government put the number at 187.