TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 29 (UPI) -- Explosions rocked shopping areas in two Uzbek towns Monday, leaving at least 19 dead and 26 injured, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.
The agency quoted Uzbek federal prosecutor Rashid Kadyrov as saying the casualties were reported in the explosion at Tashkent's Chorsu market. A child and six policemen were among the dead.
Explosions were also reported in the town of Bukhara, though there were no immediate reports of casualties.
"First of all the facts testify that the preparation of a series of terrorist acts in Tashkent and in the city outskirts was conducted quite thoroughly for a long period of time," President Islam Karimov told Uzbek TV.
Foreign Minister Sadyk Safayev said the attack was linked to international terrorism. The news agency reported nine suspects had been arrested.
The U.S. Embassy in Tashkent was closed for the day and suspended visa operations. The consular section was open for citizen services, however. The embassy urged all U.S. citizens to be on high alert and to avoid large crowds and public places.
