Reports: Uzbek government raises Andijan death toll to 176, including civilians

The official death toll for last month's clashes in eastern Uzbekistan has climbed to 176 and now includes several dozen civilians, Russian news agencies reported on Thursday.

The government has rejected rights activists' claims that up to 750 people had died in the May 13 crackdown.

Deputy Prosecutor-General Anvar Nabiyev said Thursday that 176 people had died in Andijan, including 45 civilians, according to the ITAR-Tass and Interfax news agencies.

The Uzbek government had said earlier that 173 people - 32 law enforcement workers and the rest mostly militants - had been killed. Officials had said 14 civilians died, as hostages shot by militants.

Nabiyev gave no explanation for the higher death toll. He said the casualties included 79 militants, 31 law enforcement officials and 45 civilians.

AP