OSCE urges Russia not to extradite 13 Uzbeks

MOSCOW, Aug 11 (Reuters) Europe's largest rights and security body urged Russia today not to extradite 13 people wanted by Uzbekistan for alleged involvement in the 2005 Andizhan uprising in the Central Asian state.

The call from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) came two days after Uzbekistan's neighbour Kyrgyzstan extradited five refugees who fled Andizhan, scene of what human rights groups call a massacre by government troops.

Last week, the Russian prosecutor general's office said it was ''satisfied'' with Uzbekistan's request to extradite 13 Uzbek citizens held in detention in Russia, giving the green light for the start of procedures to send them home.

''I call upon the Russian authorities to stop the extradition process,'' OSCE Chairman-in-Office Karel De Gucht said in a statement.

Gucht, who is also Belgium's Foreign Minister, urged Russia ''to continue to work together with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to resolve this case in a manner consistent with international law''.

Hundreds of refugees fled the Uzbek town of Andizhan in May 2005 when witnesses said they saw troops kill hundreds of men, women and children.

Uzbekistan denies its troops killed civilians. It says 187 people died when security forces moved against ''terrorists'' whose aim was to overthrow the government and establish an Islamic caliphate.

Uzbekistan wants the refugees back, saying it has evidence that they are criminals.

The United Nations and rights groups have said they fear refugees could face torture and execution in Uzbekistan.

The bulk of the people who fled Andizhan went to Kyrgyzstan. The UNHCR arranged for most of these to be resettled in European countries.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres on Wednesday described the extradition of Uzbek refugees by Kyrgyzstan as ''an extremely serious violation of the 1951 Refugee Convention''.

REUTERS DKB PM1808