AP: Muslim Leader Announces Revolt in Uzbek Town

[Hissyspit]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBGJSHGV8E.html

Muslim Leader Announces Revolt in Uzbek Town; Diplomats Assess Death Toll
By Burt Herman
Associated Press Writer

ANDIJAN, Uzbekistan (AP) - Diplomats and U.N. officials toured the eastern city of Andijan under government escort Wednesday to investigate widely differing accounts of recent bloodshed, as a rebel leader deepened the crisis in eastern Uzbekistan by announcing an Islamic uprising in his border town.

The government of President Islam Karimov quickly shrugged off Bakhtiyor Rakhimov's claims as "nonsense," but the rebel leader asserted that his forces controlled Korasuv, a town of 20,000 on the Kyrgyz border, and were ready to fight any government troops that came to crush his rebellion. The rebels claimed to control 5,000 activists.

"We will be building an Islamic state here in accordance with the Quran," Rakhimov said in an interview with The Associated Press. "People are tired of slavery."

- snip -

Meanwhile, refugees who fled the fighting...

- snip -

"They fired nonstop. We waved in the air with white scarves, but they continued to shoot at us," said Tojiba Mukhtarova. Others said that when the troops started shooting, police told them they would be given a corridor to leave the square. But when people entered the corridor shouting "Freedom!" the troops opened fire.

MORE

[bemildred]

1. China ain't going to like this at all. nt

[rodeodance]

2. "We will be building an Islamic state here in accordance with the Quran,"

neither is Jr!!!

[K8-EEE]

3. Freedom...I Mean, Theocracy Is On The Move!

There and here actually -- how come nobody ever notices that theocracies always SUCK?

[Javaman]

4. Fascism is on the march!

[maddezmom]

5. Rebels Seize Control of Uzbekistan Town

By BAGILA BUKHARBAYEVA, Associated Press Writer
4 minutes ago



KORASUV, Uzbekistan - Rebels cherishing the prospect of a strict Islamic state were firmly in control of this border town Wednesday, throwing up a new challenge to the government as it tried to prove to skeptical diplomats that its troops didn't fire on innocent civilians.


"We will be building an Islamic state here in accordance with the Quran," rebel leader Bakhtiyor Rakhimov told The Associated Press in Korasuv, a town of 20,000. "People are tired of slavery."

The government of President Islam Karimov dismissed those claims as "nonsense," but Rakhimov said he has 5,000 followers ready to fight any troops that try to crush the rebellion.

There was no sign of Uzbek officials in Korasuv on Wednesday. The officials apparently fled the town when rioters attacked police and government offices Saturday, a day after the violent confrontation in the nearby city of Andijan.

~snip~
more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050518/ap_on_re_eu/uzbekistan

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[shadowknows69]

8. I think WWIV may have just started with this mess

we can rest assured that shrub and company will help fan the flames. Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war. See you all on the other side.

[Teaser]

7. Hey everyone, we've got a civil war!

bouncing baby civil war. When it grows up it can be friends with the Iraqi civil war.

[EST]

9. Sad chuckle

[madrchsod]

10. there goes another pipeline.....

oh well send in the clowns.....