Troops massacre civilians
The week's news at a glance.
Andijan, Uzbekistan
Uzbek army troops killed hundreds of unarmed people, including women and children, independent reporters and eyewitnesses said this week. The Uzbek government disputed those accounts, saying the troops killed only armed insurgents. The unrest began when a group of armed men stormed a prison in Andijan to free 23 businessmen accused of having ties to Islamic extremists. When residents of the town poured into the central square to demonstrate in support of the detainees, troops arrived and began shooting. Several reports said the soldiers were visibly drunk and were picking off the wounded. A State Department spokesman said the U.S. was “deeply disturbed” by the incident. Uzbekistan, a former Soviet republic, is notorious for torturing political prisoners and trumping up charges of Islamic extremism.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 weather-beaten cartoons about the Texas floods
Cartoons Artists take on funding cuts, politicizing tragedy, and more
-
What has the Dalai Lama achieved?
The Explainer Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader has just turned 90, and he has been clarifying his reincarnation plans
-
Europe's heatwave: the new front line of climate change
In the Spotlight How will the continent adapt to 'bearing the brunt of climate change'?