Blasts called bid to kill Karimov

Blasts called bid to kill Karimov

TASHKENT (Reuters): Explosions which rocked the center of the
Uzbek capital Tashkent on Tuesday were an assassination attempt
against President Islam Karimov, state television reported.

It said Karimov was not harmed in the blasts, which knocked
out windows for several blocks around the central Independence
Square.

Residents said Karimov was in an emergency session with his
government. Officials have described the blasts as a "terrorist
act".

A local woman said troops armed with automatic rifles had
sealed off the city center. She said by telephone the first blast
was so powerful the tremors from it knocked her out of her chair
in a six-story building about 500 meters away.