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EU scraps arms embargo against Uzbekistan, last sanction imposed after 2005 crackdown

EU scraps last Uzbek sanctions

LUXEMBOURG — The European Union on Tuesday dropped the last remaining sanctions against Uzbekistan imposed after a 2005 crackdown on an uprising.

From barren Central Asian steppes, a devastated sea is reborn _ and along with it hope

From ecological Soviet-era ruin, a sea is reborn

New Russia-dominated NATO-style rapid-reaction force kicks off first military exercises

ALMATY, Kazakhstan — Thousands of troops from Russia and four other ex-Soviet nations began military exercises in southern Kazakhstan on Friday, the first of its kind for the newly formed NATO-style rapid-reaction force.

Pakistani officials say army preparing for offensive in militant bastion

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s army is ready to launch a major offensive in the al-Qaida and Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan, but is waiting approval from the government and first wants to reach deals with local warlords to support the operation, intelligence officials said Friday.

Officials say al-Qaida-linked Uzbek militant believed killed by US missile in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD — The al-Qaida-linked leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan is believed to have been killed by a U.S. missile strike in Pakistan’s northwest, intelligence officials said Friday. The Taliban denied the claim.

2 Uzbeks from Guantanamo prison arrive in Ireland; Amnesty asks other EU nations to do more

DUBLIN — Two Uzbeks imprisoned since 2002 in the Guantanamo Bay prison have arrived in Ireland, and Amnesty International is appealing to other European Union nations to deliver on pledges to give new homes to U.S. terror detainees.

The Nightingale: Uzbek migrants find uneasy way to Russia on illegal ‘ghost bus’

BUKHARA, Uzbekistan — On paper, the bus does not exist.

Uzbekistan condemns Russian plans to boost troops in Kyrgyzstan, where US also has base

ALMATY, Kazakhstan — Uzbekistan has sharply criticized Russia’s plan to boost its military presence in neighboring Kyrgyzstan, signaling a growing rift within a Moscow-dominated security alliance of ex-Soviet nations.

Uzbekistan condemns Russian plans to boost troop numbers in Kyrgyzstan, where US has base

ALMATY, Kazakhstan — Uzbekistan has condemned Russian plans to escalate its military presence in neighboring Kyrgyzstan saying it could foment instability across Central Asia.

Russia clinches deal to open 2nd military base in Kyrgyzstan, where US also has base

CHOLPON-ATA, Kyrgyzstan — Russia clinched a tentative deal Saturday allowing it to establish a second military base in Kyrgyzstan, where the United States also has an important air base.

Kyrgyz security forces kill 3 suspected members of terrorist organization in shootout

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — Kyrgyz security forces killed three alleged members of a terrorist organization in a shootout this weekend, authorities said Monday — the latest in a series of clashes with militants in this poor Central Asian nation.

Russia’s Medvedev in regional summit talks with China’s Hu, Central Asian leaders

YEKATERINBURG, Russia — Russia played regional power broker Monday, hosting China and Central Asian nations for a summit that highlights the Kremlin’s efforts to maintain clout in former Soviet territory and raise its profile in Afghanistan.

Belarus skips Moscow security alliance summit amid dairy dispute with Russia

MOSCOW — Two former Soviet republics refused to sign onto a deal Sunday to create a NATO-style rapid-reaction force for a Moscow-dominated security alliance, undermining a Kremlin bid to bolster its power and prestige amid a struggle with the West for regional clout.

Reports: Bus crash kills at least 26 in Uzbekistan

MOSCOW — Russian news agencies are reporting the deaths of at least 26 people in a bus crash in a remote southwestern region of Uzbekistan.

US commission says religious freedoms deteriorating in Russia, Turkey and 4 other nations

WASHINGTON — A congressionally backed panel said Friday that religious freedoms were deteriorating in Russia, Turkey and four other nations that were added to a watch list of countries where people’s rights to worship as they please or not to worship at all are at risk.

Pakhtakor qualifies as Andreev seals 2-1 win over Saba in the Asian Champions League

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan — Pakhtakor is through to the second round of the Asian Champions League, after rallying to defeat Iran’s Saba Battery 2-1 in Group A on Wednesday.