Local residents look at bodies of people killed in the fighting following suppression of an uprising in Uzbekistan

An Uzbek opposition leader says at least 745 people were killed by government troops suppressing widespread unrest, which began last week in the eastern city of Andijan.

The head of the Free Peasants party, Nigara Khidoyatova, said Tuesday her group arrived at the figure by speaking to relatives of those killed, and that the count is continuing.

President Islam Karimov has denied that security forces opened fire on protesters, and blamed the violence on Islamic radicals trying to overthrow the government.

The French News Agency says the Uzbek foreign ministry is planning a visit by journalists and diplomats to the affected areas Wednesday The United States has condemned the indiscriminate use of force against unarmed civilians in Uzbekistan.

A State Department spokesman said Monday the United States also condemns violence by the demonstrators, who stormed a prison, freeing as many as two thousand inmates, including Muslim extremists convicted of terrorism.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.