Dancing in the Streets

Note to self: hold off on that Uzbek holiday.

ANDIJAN, Uzbekistan -- The death toll from a crackdown by Uzbekistan security forces is mounting amid reports that unrest has spread from Andijan to at least three other towns.

More than 700 people reportedly have been killed in clashes last week in the region bordering Kyrgyzstan, The Associated Press reported Monday.

The unrest, which began Thursday, is the worst since Uzbekistan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

The Uzbek government, which witnesses say has fired on demonstrators in affected areas, blames Islamic extremists for inciting the violence.

It's always interesting to keep tabs on what's happening in the Islamic republics that used to be part of the Soviet Empire.