ANKARA, 7 Jan 2005 (IRIN) - This week in Central Asia began with more reports of torture and human rights abuses in Uzbekistan, with two local rights groups on Monday saying that an Uzbek man had been tortured to death. The independent rights group, Ezgulik, and the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU) claimed that Samandar Umarov, 35, who had been serving a 17-year prison sentence for belonging to the outlawed Islamic group, Hizbut Tahrir, had been tortured to death in a prison in the eastern Navoiy province on Sunday.Full report

ANKARA, 6 Jan 2005 (IRIN) - The Soros Foundation has said it will continue its work in the region and has dismissed suggestions it was suffering from an image problem with the authorities in Central Asia, where three out of four of its country-based foundations have encountered difficulties in their operations.Full report

ANKARA, 4 Jan 2005 (IRIN) -

JANUARY 2004

IRAN: 1/1 Bam earthquake An aid-needs assessment carried out by the UN has highlighted the shortage of food and water in the southeastern Iranian city of Bam - hit by a destructive earthquake six days ago - and surrounding villages.Full report

ANKARA, 31 Dec 2004 (IRIN) - The early part of the week was dominated by reports from Uzbekistan's parliamentary poll that took place on Sunday, 26 December. European election monitors condemned the elections, saying they did not meet international standards. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which sent 21 observers to Uzbekistan, said the vote was neither competitive nor transparent in a contest where all opposition parties had been banned from taking part. Full report

ISLAMABAD, 31 Dec 2004 (IRIN) - CONTENTS: AFGHANISTAN: Refugees and asylum seekers subjected to human rights abuses Full report

ANKARA, 24 Dec 2004 (IRIN) - On the eve of Uzbekistan's parliamentary elections on Sunday, politics featured high on the agenda throughout much of Central Asia this week, a region notorious for its lack democratic reform. Full report

ANKARA, 24 Dec 2004 (IRIN) - CONTENTS: PAKISTAN: Monitors doubt independence of government human rights body Full report

ANKARA, 17 Dec 2004 (IRIN) - This week in Central Asia the BBC reported that anti-government feeling is still running high in Uzbekistan's markets and bazaars nearly after an unprecedented outbreak of violence in the republic last month. In early November, merchants in the Fergana Valley, Uzbekistan's most populous region, set fire to cars and chased customs police out of bazaars after officials tried to impose a series of new trading restrictions. Full report

ANKARA, 17 Dec 2004 (IRIN) - CONTENTS: AFGHANISTAN: Concern at ministerial proposal to dissolve 2,000 NGOs Full report

ANKARA, 10 Dec 2004 (IRIN) - An explosion at a coal mine in central Kazakhstan killed 23 people and injured three, the AP reported on Sunday. A total of 27 miners were working in the mine in the Karaganda town of Shakhtinsk when the blast occurred, Karaganda regional administration spokesman Zhanibek Sadykanov said. Expert reports indicated that the explosion was caused by a methane blow-out. Full report

CENTRAL ASIA: Focus on conflict prevention in Ferghana Valley

CENTRAL ASIA: Focus on security threat from radical Islamic groups

CENTRAL ASIA: Interview with Felix Corley, religious rights activist

CENTRAL ASIA: Interview with OSCE senior adviser on freedom of the media

CENTRAL ASIA: Interview with OSCE personal envoy, Martti Ahtisaari