Tashkent police on the streets

State-run media in Uzbekistan were initially slow to report the series of shootings and bombings which have hit the country since the weekend.

More than 40 people have been killed so far in clashes between what the authorities call "foreign extremists" and Uzbek police.

The first report of a bomb at Tashkent's busiest market came from the Russian news agency RIA at 0541 GMT on 29 March.

The first report on Uzbek media sources was carried on FM radio Poytakht-Inform, which at 0630 GMT reported the blast and news of a shoot-out in the city.

Meanwhile, Uzbek state TV had still not started its scheduled broadcasting for the day. Russian agencies were issuing a stream of reports on casualties and explosions, and Russian media sources were reporting that President Islam Karimov would make a statement to the nation at 0800 GMT.

State media goes on air

Uzbek TV then went on air, two hours earlier than scheduled, but broadcast a cultural programme and a report on hunting in France.

As a result of the explosion which took place near the entrance to the Children's World shop at the Chorsu market, two people were killed State TV

Its first news bulletin of the day at 1000 gmt made no mention of the blasts. Uzbek state radio was broadcasting news bulletins, but with no mention of any explosions.

Another FM radio, Radio Grand, reported on a shoot-out in Tashkent in its 1200 GMT bulletin. Poytakht-Inform quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman at 1230 GMT saying that the blasts in Tashkent were a continuation of events in Madrid and Afghanistan.

First mention of attacks

State radio and TV were still lagging behind. News bulletins at 1300 GMT had no mention of the attacks, but at 1345 GMT - eight hours after the first report of the explosions - state TV began an unscheduled bulletin.

"A series of terrorist acts was carried out in Tashkent on the night from 28 March to 29 March 2004 and this morning," a solemn-looking presenter said, reading from a statement. "In particular, as a result of the explosion which took place near the entrance to the Children's World shop at the Chorsu market, two people were killed... According to preliminary information, this tragedy took place when a home-made explosive device was detonated by an unidentified person."

Why should a Muslim kill a Muslim, why should an Uzbek kill an Uzbek - what for?... How can this be understood? How can this be justified? President Islam Karimov

The statement went on to detail another explosion in the Old Town, attacks on police officers in Tashkent, and a blast in Bukhara Region the day before which killed nine and was said to have been caused by prospective terrorists blowing themselves up by accident.

The statement - broadcast first in Uzbek and repeated in Russian - described preparations as "organised and large-scale" and spoke of "experienced militants, whose goal is to strike fear and panic into people and attack their lives".

President Karimov speaks

The main Russian-language evening news, which followed, reported the bombings in brief, but the flagship Uzbek-language bulletin - brought forward half an hour - opened with an exclusive interview with President Karimov, which turned out to be a monologue on the bombings.

President Karimov speaks to the nation

President Karimov expressed shock at the "unimaginable and filthy terrorist acts" in Uzbekistan, asking repeatedly why they had happened. "Why should a Muslim kill a Muslim, why should an Uzbek kill an Uzbek - what for?... How can this be understood? How can this be justified?"

He said the attacks were carefully planned and showed evidence of backing from abroad. He described the use of suicide bombers as a new and alarming development in Uzbekistan, but pledged to bring the perpetrators to light. Uzbek TV repeated the statement and interview throughout the evening.

Next day

State news programmes on 30 March repeated the president's message in full. State radio stations were observed to play music as normal and carry old news.

Meanwhile, further attacks were being reported by Russian sources. Poytakht-Inform FM radio at 0605 GMT quoted Russian agency reports on a new blast and shoot-out in Tashkent and another report later on a further explosion.

Uzbek state TV and radio channels mentioned the previous attacks, but the top story was a visit by the former Lithuanian president.

It was as if life had stopped in Tashkent. It is not noticeable outwardly, but people are seized by terror Express-K newspaper, Kazakhstan

In the evening, the second item in state TV's Russian-language news was a statement from the Interior Ministry saying that 20 people had blown themselves up as police tried to force them out of a building.

The Uzbek-language evening bulletin had terror stories lower down the running order. It led with the former Lithuanian president's visit, and followed with several reports on condolences from foreign leaders. Then it reported the Interior Ministry statement on the 20 people blowing themselves up.

It then featured a commentary on previous acts of terror in Madrid and New York.

Regional reporting

Across Central Asia, only Kazakhstan's media gave prominence to events in Uzbekistan. Khabar TV carried reports of the first blasts. The press reported the incidents widely the next day.

"It was as if life had stopped in Tashkent," the tabloid-style Express-K newspaper said. "It is not noticeable outwardly, but people are seized by terror."

Turkmenistan's state media kept quiet, while Tajik and Kyrgyz sources made passing mentions only.

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.