Central Asia

Targets Set for Uzbek 'Slaves'

Students press-ganged into gathering republic's vital cotton harvest have now been ordered to meet daily quotas.

21 Feb 05

New party says it advocates liberal democracy, but looks like previous government-sponsored groups.

21 Feb 05

Budget difficulties and a desire to hide unemployment levels are blamed for latest purge.

21 Feb 05

Poaching scandal threatens to blow up into political row as protected species turns up at Russian airbase.

21 Feb 05

Military officials sacked for trying to forcibly enlist youngsters.

21 Feb 05

Thousands of people in the Fergana valley take to the streets, some attacking the police sent to disperse them.

21 Feb 05

Corruption and trigger-happy soldiers blamed for shootings on a remote section of the border.

21 Feb 05

Army conscripts are hired out as labour by their officers, who collect an easy but illegal profit.

21 Feb 05

Fear grips Kokand market traders as they await retribution for protest against the authorities.

21 Feb 05

The three deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning highlight the poor condition of Kazakstan’s gas safety systems

21 Feb 05

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