The unregistered Uzbek opposition party Erk held its first congress in 10 years in Tashkent on 14 June. Erk, the first opposition political party registered after Uzbekistan became independent, lost its registration, as did the Birlik Movement from which Erk originated, in 1993. Since then, its members have frequently been harassed by the authorities. Party founder Muhammad Salih, who now lives in exile abroad, has been implicated by the authorities in the February 1999 bombings in Tashkent, an accusation he vehemently denies. Some 30 members of the party\'s central committee participated in the congress, criticizing the authorities and promising to be more active in Uzbek politics. The party\'s leader inside Uzbekistan, Atonazar Arifov, called on party members to begin preparing for upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. Congress participants credited international pressure for making the gathering possible. At the last minute, the hotel where the congress was to have been held refused to accept the delegates and a new venue had to be found. (centralasia.ru)