SUSSEX, England -- Bombers have been out again in Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital. The bombs that went off at the U.S. and Israeli embassies and the prosecutor general's office on July 30 marked the opening of the trial of 15 men charged with setting off bombs that rocked Tashkent a year ago. The government describes the men as "Islamic militants."
Government officials attributed the suicide bombing to the outlawed extremist Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. That organization has, however, denied the charge. The Islamist Movement of Uzbekistan has claimed responsibility.
Some believe the government itself is behind the attacks with the aim of attracting sympathy and support for President Islam Karimov.