MOSCOW, June 24 (RIA Novosti) - Russian security agencies have information that terrorists infiltrate the territory of Uzbekistan from Afghanistan.
"Former militants from the 'Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan,' Taliban fighters, and those parties who conducted terrorist activities on Russian territory help to train terrorists in regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan near the Afghan-Uzbek border," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a news conference after talks with the NATO secretary-general.
When asked about external factors in the May disturbances in the Uzbek town of Andijan, Lavrov said: "We have information indicating that terrorists move to the Fergana Valley from several regions of Afghanistan."
"We cannot reveal the details because it would play into terrorists hands, but our security agencies do have such information," Lavrov said.
On May 13, armed men seized a prison and a number of government buildings in Andijan, which is in the Fergana Valley. Hundreds of inmates, including members of extremist organizations, escaped the prison. Uzbek law enforcement bodies put down the uprising. According to official data, 176 were killed in the disturbances.
