Uzbeks hit out at US backing for president

TRAUMATISED refugees last night slammed the Bush administration for legitimating Uzbek President Islam Karimov.

Thousands of civilians are reported dead in the country after three days of violence and hundreds are reported to be trying to flee to neighbouring Kyrgyzstan.

Gunfire persisted again in the eastern city of Andijan where security forces fired on protesters last week a clash that reportedly left several hundred dead and new reports emerged that violence in nearby towns killed hundreds more.