"The claims that a peaceful demonstration in Andijan was shot at are absurd," Ivanov was quoted by Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency as saying.

"The so-called civilians that night in Andijan were as well armed as an army battalion. They took over a barracks, then a prison. Are these peaceful protestors?," Ivanov demanded, referring to the events of May 13 in the provincial centre in eastern Uzbekistan.

The bloody crackdown in Andijan has prompted intense criticism from the West, amid reports that soldiers opened fire on hundreds of unarmed demonstrators who gathered in its central square after gunmen took over much of the city.

After meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, Karimov reiterated his insistence that the events in Andijan were a well organised attempt at an armed Islamic insurrection orchestrated from outside the country.

"We have enough facts to prove that the operation was prepared several months and perhaps several years in advance outside Uzbekistan's borders," Karimov said.

While human rights groups have said that several hundred civilians died in the crackdown, Uzbek authorities have put the toll at 176 and have said that no civilians died at the hands of state forces.

Uzbekistan has continued to resist Western and United Nations calls for an independent international inquiry.

Karimov was due to leave Moscow later on Wednesday.