The European Union on Monday eased sanctions against Uzbekistan which were imposed after it rejected demands for an international probe into a deadly uprising in Andijan province in 2005.

EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg agreed to renew for 12 months an arms embargo but suspend visa restrictions in place against some Uzbek officials for six months.

The restrictions could be reapplied if the Uzbek authorities fail to make progress on human rights, the ministers agreed in a joint statement.

"We are very concerned about the human rights situation there, but at the same time we have received some more positive signals from the Uzbek regime to re-engage," said EU External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

Uzbek authorities say that 187 people were killed in Andijan, all due to the actions of Islamic insurgents, while international rights groups say hundreds of mainly unarmed protesters were killed.

The European foreign ministers said they remained "seriously concerned about the human rights situation in Uzbekistan" while welcoming the "increased willingness of the Uzbek authorities to engage in dialogue with the EU."