500 killed in Uzbek unrest

Close to 500 people are believed to be killed in fighting in Uzbekistan's Andijan since Friday, after armed gunmen stormed the city's prison and freed Islamic extremists.

Russia said it suspected Taliban and other Islamic militants to be behind the unrest in Ferghana valley.

"The sources in the foreign ministry and defence and intelligence agencies have confirmed the concentration of Islamic militants, including the Taliban on the meeting point of Uzbek, Tajik and Kyrgyz borders in Ferghana Valley," government-run radio Mayak (Beacon) said.

"The unrest in Uzbekistan's Andijan was planned in advance and followed a predetermined scenario," Russia's First Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Loshchinin said.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov on Sunday called up his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and briefed him about the situation.