By empty (3/4/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

An explosion occurred at the Bishkek apartment of Roza Otunbaeva, co-chairwoman of the opposition Ata-Jurt bloc, in the early morning of 3 March, RFE/RL\'s Kyrgyz Service reported. According to Otunbaeva, the blast knocked out windows and damaged the building. It took place on the balcony and caused no injuries, however.

By empty (3/4/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Thousands of people have attended the funeral of murdered independent reporter Elmar Huseynov in Azerbaijan. Huseynov, widely known for his outspoken criticism of the Azerbaijani authorities, was shot outside his flat in the capital, Baku, on Wednesday. International organizations and foreign governments have condemned the killing.

By empty (3/4/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

In response to a request from Interfax, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing \"bewilderment\" at a request earlier this week by Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili that the EU consider deploying observers to Georgia\'s borders with Ingushetia, Chechnya, and Daghestan. The Russian statement points out that previous monitoring of the border by the OSCE was suspended because it proved ineffective. The statement further characterizes Zourabichvili\'s request as an attempt to drive a wedge between Russia and the EU, \"with which Moscow is linked by close ties of partnership.