Uzbeks slam US over religion intolerance list

TASHKENT, Nov 24 (Reuters) Uzbekistan hit back at the United States today for adding it to a list of nations that violate religious freedom, accusing Washington of meddling in its domestic affairs.

The US State Department added the former Soviet Central Asian country to the list earlier this month and blamed it for harsh treatment of Muslims and repression of Christians.

Uzbekistan, its relations with the United States strained after a government crackdown in the town of Andizhan last year, defended itself by saying tolerance was at the top of its agenda.

''People from 18 different religions live and practice their beliefs in peace and agreement in Uzbekistan, including Islam, Orthodox Christianity, Judaism, Catholicism and other religions,'' the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

''The Uzbek side believes the State Department's decision to add the republic to the so-called list of 'states that raise deep concern in terms of religious freedom' is groundless and is nothing else but interference in the internal affairs of the sovereign state of Uzbekistan.'' Uzbekistan is a former Soviet country wedged between Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. As in communist days, Uzbekistan tolerates only a state-approved version of Islam.

It has cracked down on religious groups operating outside the state-approved system as part of its fight against Islamist militants who, it says, seek to oust President Islam Karimov.

Karimov says extremists were behind unrest in Andizhan last year. Witnesses said hundreds of unarmed people were killed when government troops opened fire on a large crowd. The government says 187 people, either extremists or police, were killed.

Religion rights watchers have also registered cases of harassment of minority Christians, including Protestant priests.

John Hanford, the US ambassador at large for religious freedom, said this month that ''violations of religious freedom ... (were) widespread and severe, and the situation has continued to deteriorate this year'' in Uzbekistan.

REUTERS AB HT1400