But Uzbek officials say Tashkent has provided only humanitarian aid.

The sanctions also ban travel by Uzbek officials directly involved in the Andijon crackdown to the 25 members of the European Union.

Two days later reports of Uzbek government support for his rebellion surfaced, an allegation Uzbek officials denied.

Usman later odered Biimurzaev to assassinate what Radio Free Europe referred to as a "high-ranking Uzbek official."

If he cannot rule in Afghanistan, Uzbek officials say privately, he may begin pursuing this goal.

But Uzbek officials have denied any mass killings.

Even some senior Uzbek officials acknowledge privately that the methods are at times excessive.

The border was officially opened to tourist traffic in 2005, but the message doesn't seem to have reached all the Uzbek officials at the bridge.

Last week, an Uzbek official said his country would open the bridge and allow relief supplies to cross.

With Uzbek officials looking to potential world business partners, they talk of battling poverty by building their own cotton mills.