Militants blamed as 19 people killed in Uzbek attacks

ISLAMIC extremists were blamed yesterday for suicide bombings, attacks on police and an explosion at an alleged terrorist bomb-making factory in Uzbekistan that killed 19 people including the bombers and injured 26.

The suicide bombings by two women were the first ever reported in the former Soviet central Asian republic that is now a staunch ally of the US led anti-terror campaign in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Prosecutor-General Rashid Kadyrov said the events began on Sunday night with an explosion that killed 10 people at a house being used by extremists in the central province of Bukhara.