The official death toll in the unrest in Uzbekistan's eastern city of Andijan has risen to 173 after three more law enforcement officials died of wounds in the past few days, the Uzbek authorities said on Friday.

A total of 276 people are now under treatment in hospital for injuries in the Andijan riot, according to reports from Tashkent, quoting Svetlana Artikova, press secretary for the prosecutor general's office.

Artikova said that 52 of the 98 Andijan riot suspects have been arrested and convicted.

She added that 470 out of the 527 prisoners released by rioters from the city's prison had voluntarily given themselves up and that another 15 had been captured. The Uzbek law enforcement body has been continuing with the hunt for other escaped prisoners.

Artikova said that the government is further investigating the Andijan unrest.

On May 12, armed protesters turned Andijan into chaos, attacking regional and city administration buildings, setting free prisoners from a prison and clashing with security forces.

The Uzbek government forces regained control of the situation in Andijan on the second day under the direction of President Islam Karimov.

So far the unrest in Andijan has killed 14 law enforcement officials, according to figures released by the Uzbek government.

Source: Xinhua