BBC News Online: World: South Asia

Uzbeks deny Taleban 'overfly' accusations

Uzbekistan has denied allegations by the Taleban authorities in Afghanistan that the Uzbek air force violated Afghan air space.

A foreign ministry statement described the reports as disinformation.

Earlier, the Taleban said Uzbek jet fighters crossed Afghanistan's border near the town of Hayrataan, north of Mazar-e Sharif, twice on Tuesday and once more on Wednesday.

This is the area where the Taleban are alleged to have provided Chechens, and other Central Asian militants, with training camps.

The Taleban deny that such camps exist, or that they are giving anything other than moral and diplomatic support to the Chechens. The BBC Kabul correspondent says tensions between the two neighbours have increased since Russia threatened to launch air strikes against the Taleban over its alleged support for Chechen rebels.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service