The Central Asian republic of Uzbekistan on Tuesday closed its border with neighbouring Kyrgyzstan after one of its customs posts was attacked by a group of unidentified militants. According to media reports,the customs post in Khanabad,bordering on Kyrgyzstan's Osh district was rocked on Monday night by a powerful blast,which was followed by exchange of firing between police and gunmen. The roads leading to Khanabad in Andijan district of Ferghana Valley have been blocked by the Uzbek troops and heavy weapons including tanks have been moved in the region. Quoting Kyrgyz border guards,Interfax reported that border crossings in Osh and Jalal-Abad regions have been closed at the request of Uzbekistan. The residents of Kyrgyz border villages also confirmed hearing a powerful blast followed by gunfire and tanks moving into the region. However,the Kyrgyzstan border guards refused to comment on events inside the neighbouring state's territory,Interfax said. Some reports said that four police officers were killed in the attack. Although there had been no word from the authorities in Tashkent,Uzbek President Islam Karimov was in the airport to embark on the official visits to Brazil and Spain. "There are no plans to cancel the visit," RIA Novosti reported officials in Tashkent. Uzbekistan's densely populated Ferghana Valley,with high rate of unemployment,has witnessed mass rioting at several occasions in the past. In the worst case of rioting few years ago in May 2005,said to be masterminded by the Afghanistan and Pakistan-based Islamic outfits,militants had attacked local jail,administrative buildings and police stations in Andijan,forcing the authorities to quell the uprising with the use of military. The US and EU had imposed sanctions on President Karimov's regime for alleged suppression of democratic forces,which now mostly have been lifted.
