The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Bishkek

A court in Kyrgyzstan sentenced 32 Islamists to jail terms of between nine and 20 years for their role in riots in the southern region of Osh in October, state television reported Saturday.

The riots took place in the town of Nookat on October 1, the day when Kyrgyzstan was marking the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr at the end of the Ramadan holy fasting month. The television said the verdicts were handed down by the provincial court of the Osh region and were greeted by shouts of "Allahu Akbar!" (God is Greatest) from the accused.

Officials have said that the unrest was sparked by the refusal of the local administration to hold a public celebration marking Eid al-Fitr, which is known in Kyrgyzstan as Orozo Ait.

The demonstrators threw stones against the building of the local government and behaved violently towards the local police. The head of the regional administration was sacked as a result of the disturbances.

Officials have also said that the demonstrations were linked to the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir (Party of Islamic Liberation) movement, a Sunni Muslim group which advocates the establishment of Islamic states in Central Asia.

State television said the accused were found guilty on eight counts, including damaging public buildings, creating mass disturbances, behaving violently towards the police and membership of a banned party.