Uzbekistan has been touted as a bastion of Muslim moderation, but evidently neither the US nor the Russian governments believe that is entirely true. From AFP:
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States and Russia carried out a secret operation last week to remove weapons-grade uranium from the former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan, whose government is facing growing Islamist unrest, said the Energy Department....Posted at September 14, 2004 11:56 AMEnergy Secretary Spencer Abraham said Monday the one-day operation, implemented last Thursday, was crucial for enhancing international security.
"The recovery, return and eventual elimination of this highly-enriched uranium are an important milestone in our campaign to reduce this dangerous material worldwide," he said in a brief statement.
The operation targeted 11 kilograms (24.2 pounds) of enriched uranium fuel, including highly-enriched uranium that could be used for manufacturing nuclear weapons, that was brought to Uzbekistan during Soviet times, officials said.