An Uzbek opposition leader who pushed for an easing of the country's autocratic rule was arrested on embezzlement charges Monday, the Interior Ministry said. Sanjar Umarov, chairman of the Sunshine Coalition, was arrested for "the theft of millions and embezzlement," the ministry said.Umarov, a wealthy businessman-turned-politician, was detained on Saturday, the Fergana.ru Web site said. Umarov called on the Uzbek government last week to start a political dialogue, and sent an open letter to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who was visiting Uzbekistan at the time. In the letter, the coalition expressed its intention to look for a resolution of the political crisis in Uzbekistan, and called for stronger integration and economic ties with Russia. The Sunshine Coalition was formed in April in the wake of the revolution in neighboring Kyrgyzstan that ousted President Askar Akayev. It gained prominence in May for denouncing the brutal quelling of a popular uprising in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijan.