Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urged an Uzbek parliamentary panel to investigate this month's violence in Andijan, including the alleged role of outside forces, but declined to comment on calls for an international probe. In response to a question on calls by the United Nations, European Union, United States and NATO for an international probe, Lavrov said Thursday that an investigation was necessary. He said the Uzbek panel formed to look into the Andijan events would be looking at the role played by law enforcement authorities and the government in restoring order. He said it should also address the causes of the violence, including "by whom, how and with whose help was organized the group of people who invaded Uzbekistan, illegally seized first a police post, then a military unit, weapons, government buildings and hostages." The Uzbek parliament consists entirely of pro-government lawmakers, The Associated Press reported. Lavrov said there was information that "outside forces" were involved in the group, and said that required careful investigation. "We are talking about stemming the threats of international terrorism in this extraordinarily important strategic region," Lavrov said at a news conference in the Lithuanian border town of Kybertai, according to a transcript provided Friday by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
