Another 11 Jailed For Role In Andijon Unrest

The sentences range from 18 months to 11 years.

Nine policemen and soldiers were found guilty of neglecting their duties. Two doctors from a Tashkent prison were jailed for giving mobile phones to the militants who allegedly organized the uprising.

Uzbek courts have so far tried and convicted more than 150 people for their role in what the Uzbek authorities maintain was an armed revolt led by Islamic militants.

The disturbance started with protests at the jailing of a number of local businessmen accused of being members of a banned Islamic group. That was followed by an armed attack on the prison that released the jailed men, and ended with troops opening fire on crowds of people.

Uzbek officials say 187 people -- mostly Islamic extremists -- were killed in the violence. Human rights groups put the death toll much higher, saying civilians number among many hundreds of dead.

(AFP/AP/ITAR-TASS)