ALMA-ATA, March 30 (Xinhuanet) -- At least 19 people were killed and 26 others injured in a series of terrorist blasts in Uzbekistan on Sunday and Monday, news reaching here from the Uzbekcapital of Tashkent said.

    The country's Prosecutor General Rashid Kadyrov told a press conference Monday that 19 people including six police officers were killed in the attacks and some 26 others injured.

    The first attack in which about 10 people were killed occurred on Sunday night in the central city of Bukhara as alleged terrorists accidentally set off an explosion in a house, he said.

    Police later found at the site some materials for homemade bombs, instructions on bomb making, a rifle, two pistols, ammunition and extremist Islamic booklets, he said.

    A female suicide bomber blew herself up near the Children's World shop Monday morning in Tashkent, killing two police officersand a child, he said.

    Only some 30 minutes later the second suicide bombing near a bus stop in the city killed a policeman in addition to another female bomber, said the prosecutor.

    Three other police officers were killed in related attacks, he said.     

    GOVERNMENT BLAMES ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS FOR ATTACKS

    President Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov said police have arrested several suspects and he blamed Islamic extremists for the violence.

    "I call on everyone to unite and protect our country from enemies," the president said on the state-run TV later Monday, noting that the banned Islamic group of Hizb ut-Tahrir may have links with the attacks.

    He also said the well-prepared attacks were aimed at sparking chaos in the country and panic among the people and he called on the Uzbek people to be on full alert for new attacks.

    Uzbek Foreign Minister Sadyk Safayev also told a press conference on Monday that international terrorist organizations including Hizb ut-Tahrir were behind the attacks.     

    HIZB UT-TAHRIR DENIES RESPONSIBILITY, BLAMES UZBEK AUTHORITIES

    However, Hizb ut-Tahrir denied the accusations, news reaching here from London said.

    The group issued a statement in the British capital where it operates openly, saying it is only "an Islamic political party that does not undertake violent actions."

    Hizb ut-Tahrir has no "involvement whatsoever" and "does not engage in terrorism, violence or armed struggle," said the statement.

    The group in turn blamed the Uzbek government, saying the latter's accusations were "an act of desperation on the part of a failing and weak regime."

    Spokesman Imran Waheed of the group also denied responsibility for the attacks.

    "We feel these explosions come at a very opportune moment for the Uzbek regime ... One has to wonder whether the finger of blameshould be pointed at the Uzbek regime itself," he said.     

    RUSSIA, US CONDEMN TERROR ATTACKS

    Russia condemned on late Monday the attacks in Uzbekistan, a former Soviet republic, and expressed its decision to fight terrorism, said a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry.

    "Moscow stoutly condemns the criminal activities," the statement said, noting that the tragedies once again showed terrorism has no "geographical, political or religious criteria."

    "All this calls for further solidarity among all countries and people in the battle against international terrorism," the statement said. "There is nothing to fear."

    Meanwhile in Washington, the US government also condemned the attacks on Monday and called for international cooperation in fighting terrorism.

    "First, let me make it clear that we strongly condemn the senseless act of violence. We'd like to extend our condolences to the government of Uzbekistan and the Uzbek people for the injuries and the loss of life caused by these terrorist attacks," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.

    "The attacks are yet another example of the importance of continued cooperation against those who would stop at nothing to achieve their misguided goals,'' Boucher said.

    The US Embassy in Tashkent warned on Monday of more similar attacks and thus closed its downtown offices and suspended its visa processing.

    "Because of the attacks and the uncertainty of whether or not there will be more attacks today, we encourage all American citizens to be on the highest alert for their safety and security and to avoid large crowds and public places," said the embassy in a notice to US citizens in Uzbekistan.

    The embassy also warned in the notice that "other terrorists are believed still at large and may be attempting additional attacks."

    Uzbekistan has opened a major military base to the United States for the latter's military operations in Afghanistan.

    Uzbekistan's northern neighbor Kazakhstan has also tightened its security controls on its border following the tragedies. Enditem