Uzbekistan blames Al-Qaeda for the terrorist acts

Uzbekistani authorities blame "Al-Qaeda" for preparing and conducting terrorist acts in this country. Associated Press correspondent was advised about it on 1 April by Ilya Pyagai, deputy head of antiterrorism department, Ministry of the Interior.

According to him, the Wahabbi extremists, who have organised the explosions in the country, belong to a unit of the international terrorist organisation "Al-Qaeda". He also noted that the terrorist acts had been planned in advance and for a long time.

I. Pyagai also said that the operation on search and capture of suspects was continued. He added that presently the authorities were checking identities of 20 terrorists killed in the clashes of 30 March - many of them had fake documents on them and the authorities try to define whether they were citizens of Uzbekistan or not.