MOSCOW, May 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Russia said Friday it is closely watching development of the violent protests in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijan and condemns use of force by extremists in the protests.

    The events in Andijan are "Uzbekistan's internal affairs," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters in Moscow. Russia isclosely watching the development of the situation in the Central Asian country, he said.

    "Russia is concerned with the unrest in Andijan, Uzbekistan, with which Russia maintains a strategic partnership, and Russia supports the Uzbek government in its efforts to stabilize the situation there," Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said in a statement posted at the ministry's website.

    Russia condemns the use of force and unconstitutional means by extremists in Uzbekistan to achieve their political goals, Yakovenko said in the statement.

    Thousands of armed protesters plunged the eastern Uzbek city ofAndijan into chaos Friday when they freed prisoners from a prison and clashed with security forces. Nine people were killed and 34 wounded in the clashes.

    Protesters, who began to rally Wednesday, demanded the release of 23 men on trial for allegedly conducting anti-constitutional activities and forming a criminal and extremist organization.

    Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the international affairs committee of the State Duma (lower house of parliament), told reporters that Russia should "do all it can" to help Uzbekistan stabilize the situation and bring the parties in conflict to political dialogue. Enditem