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| Attack closes Uzbek-Kyrgyz border | Attack closes Uzbek-Kyrgyz border |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The border between the Central Asian nations of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan has been closed after reports of a blast and shootings on the Uzbek side. | The border between the Central Asian nations of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan has been closed after reports of a blast and shootings on the Uzbek side. |
| The Uzbeks closed transit points after an explosion at a police station in the border town of Khanabad. | The Uzbeks closed transit points after an explosion at a police station in the border town of Khanabad. |
| Eyewitnesses said a shoot-out followed between police and armed men trying to drive through a police checkpoint. | Eyewitnesses said a shoot-out followed between police and armed men trying to drive through a police checkpoint. |
| The motive is not yet clear, however, Uzbek media have speculated about a possible failed terrorist attack. | |
| Security services and military reinforcements have been sent to Khanabad. There was no immediate word on casualties. | Security services and military reinforcements have been sent to Khanabad. There was no immediate word on casualties. |
| Extremism | Extremism |
| The Ferghana Valley, where Khanabad is located, has been the scene of several attacks by militant groups. | The Ferghana Valley, where Khanabad is located, has been the scene of several attacks by militant groups. |
| Observers say the strong rule of President Islam Karimov has fuelled extremism in the region. | |
| Khanabad is also close to the Uzbek city of Andijan, where locals say security forces shot dead hundreds of mainly peaceful protesters in 2005. | Khanabad is also close to the Uzbek city of Andijan, where locals say security forces shot dead hundreds of mainly peaceful protesters in 2005. |
| The violence there broke out after an armed jail-break turned into a huge demonstration involving thousands of Uzbeks. | The violence there broke out after an armed jail-break turned into a huge demonstration involving thousands of Uzbeks. |
| The Uzbek government has denied there was a massacre of civilians, saying it thwarted an Islamist uprising. | The Uzbek government has denied there was a massacre of civilians, saying it thwarted an Islamist uprising. |
| It says the death toll was exaggerated, and that nearly all of those who died were soldiers or terrorists. | It says the death toll was exaggerated, and that nearly all of those who died were soldiers or terrorists. |