25 April 2004	Sunday	04 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

MOSCOW: It is an event more usually associated with cocktails, canapes and polite laughter. But in Uzbekistan, the annual party held by the British embassy in honour of Queen Elizabeth's birthday has been the object of dark threats from the secret police.

Furious with the efforts of the British ambassador, Craig Murray, to highlight human rights abuses in the country, the Uzbek security services have warned everyone from government officials to local musicians not to attend.

A source close to the embassy said: "Prominent Uzbeks were invited to attend. But they have been getting phone calls from the secret police telling them it would be bad for their health to be there."

At least 20 Uzbek guests rang the embassy to say they would come anyway. The callers said the Uzbek security services, or SNB, had made the majority of threats.

The Uzbek government then summoned a host of prominent musicians to the prime minister's office for a meeting on Monday. "They were told they would be banned from performing in public or in the media if they played at the party," said the source.

The renowned Uzbek folk singer Sherali, who has already been banned by the government, was top of the bill at the party.

"What are they going to do?" asked the source. "Ban him twice?"

The Uzbek foreign ministry was unable to comment, but it usually denies accusations of coercion by the secret police.

Mr Murray organized the eight-hour event.

"Craig throws quite a bash, probably the biggest in town," said one local businessman. A thousand guests were expected to attend this year's party - about 200 fewer than invited. The absence of Uzbek officials was not said to dent the party spirit. "If all they do is not turn up, then the party will probably be better than if they were there," said the source before the party began.

Mr Murray has been mired in controversy since his persistent outbursts over human rights abuses led to an investigation into his conduct last year.-Dawn/The Guardian News Service.