A group of three U.S. senators told a news conference in Tashkent on 29 May that Uzbekistan must allow an independent investigation of allegations that government troops fired on unarmed demonstrators in Andijon on 13 May, agencies reported. Senator John McCain said, \"We are here today because we are concerned about recent events that have taken place, which entailed the killing of innocent people,\" RFE/RL\'s Uzbek Service reported. Speaking at a news conference the next day in Bishkek, McCain stressed, \"We are not pleased at events in Uzbekistan. We repeat our demand for a full and complete investigation by the OSCE of the massacre [in Andijon] that occurred just a few days ago,\" RFE/RL\'s Kyrgyz Service reported. Senators McCain and Lindsey Graham noted on 29 May in Tashkent that it would be \"very difficult\" for the United States to maintain its current level of relations with Uzbekistan in the absence of an impartial investigation, Reuters reported. Senator McCain also noted, \"No [Uzbek] government officials agreed to meet with us.\" (RFE/RL)