Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty © 2008

In a statement, they deplored the lack of an independent international inquiry into last year's events in Andijon.

The statement also condemned the crackdown on human rights activists and the expulsion of the UN's refugee agency last month. It says EU sanctions agreed to last November, including a freeze of political contacts and an arms embargo, remain in place.

EU measures against Uzbek authorities include suspending a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and enacting a visa ban on some officials.

Tashkent says 187 people -- mostly what officials described as Islamic terrorists or members of the security forces -- died when Uzbek forces opened fire to quell an uprising in Andijon on May 13, 2005. Human rights groups and witnesses say hundreds of mostly unarmed civilians may have been killed.

EU Ministers 'Profoundly' Concerned Over Uzbekistan

The number of dead in the Andijon violence last year is still not known (AFP)
BRUSSELS, May 15, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- EU foreign ministers, meeting in Brussels today, have expressed "profound concern" over the situation in Uzbekistan.

EU Ministers 'Profoundly' Concerned Over Uzbekistan

The number of dead in the Andijon violence last year is still not known (AFP)BRUSSELS, May 15, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- EU foreign ministers, meeting in Brussels today, have expressed "profound concern" over the situation in Uzbekistan.

The number of dead in the Andijon violence last year is still not known (AFP)
BRUSSELS, May 15, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- EU foreign ministers, meeting in Brussels today, have expressed "profound concern" over the situation in Uzbekistan.