Europe sticks it to Uzbekistan

At least some countries are concerned about doing the right thing.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is pulling aid to Uzbekistan, citing slow reform and the country's dire human-rights record.

The bank called for an improvement of human rights in the country and for economic restructuring last year but concluded little headway has been made.

And unlike the the better treatment Uzbekistan has received in the American press, the BBC isn't afraid to pull any punches in their coverage of the country.

President Islam Karimov heads one of the region's most repressive regimes.

Meanwhile, the US has sent Uzbekistan $160m in foreign aid, and that money will probably increase since Karimov played the al-Qa'ida card, saying they are responsible for recent bombings in the country.