ANKARA (AA) - Members of the Confederation of Labor Unions of Civil Servants (Memur-Sen) and the Organization of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed People (Mazlumder) laid a black wreath in front of the Uzbek Embassy in Ankara on Wednesday to protest recent events in that country.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Memur-Sen Chairman Ahmet Aksu claimed that the United States and Britain were responsible for recent turmoil in Uzbekistan.
Calling on Turkish authorities and the Islam world to take immediate action, Aksu said that Turkey should act as mediator in an effort to resolve the turmoil.
Meanwhile, Mazlumder Chairman Ayhan Bilgen said that the Uzbek government had committed serious human rights violations against dissident groups in the country to preserve its political rule.
The turmoil in Andijan city of Uzbekistan came after protesters stormed a prison, freed inmates and then seized local government offices. Uzbek soldiers opened fire on protesters killing nearly 170 people.
(UK-ULG)
2005-05-18