EU scraps last Uzbek sanctions

The European Union has dropped the last remaining sanctions against Uzbekistan imposed after a 2005 crackdown on an uprising.

EU foreign ministers said on Tuesday they ended the arms embargo against the Uzbek government to encourage it to further improve the human rights situation and the rule of law.

The phasing-out of sanctions came after the ex-Soviet Central Asian nation helped support U.S.-led military operations in neighbouring Afghanistan, leading to better ties with the West.