Prosecutors in the Andijon trial on 20 September
23 September 2005 (RFE/RL) -- The trial of several people accused of launching an antigovernment uprising in Uzbekistan continued in Tashkent today.
It's the fourth day of the trial of 15 men -- including three Kyrgyz citizens -- who Uzbek authorities blame for the uprising in the eastern city of Andijon in May.
At today's trial, defendants continued to reiterate their guilt, saying that they are members of banned Islamic organizations who wanted to overthrow the Uzbek government. On 22 September, the defendants denied allegations by human rights groups that their confessions were coerced through torture.
The uprising in Andijon was followed by a severe military crackdown, in which the government say 187 people -- mostly Islamic extremists -- were killed.
Rights advocates dispute the official version, saying many more people were killed and most of the victims were civilians.
(AP)
For RFE/RL's full coverage of the Andijon trials, see "Aftermath Of Andijon"
At today's trial, defendants continued to reiterate their guilt, saying that they are members of banned Islamic organizations who wanted to overthrow the Uzbek government. On 22 September, the defendants denied allegations by human rights groups that their confessions were coerced through torture.
The uprising in Andijon was followed by a severe military crackdown, in which the government say 187 people -- mostly Islamic extremists -- were killed.
Rights advocates dispute the official version, saying many more people were killed and most of the victims were civilians.
(AP)
For RFE/RL's full coverage of the Andijon trials, see "Aftermath Of Andijon"