Uzbekistan president Karimov dies aged 78 after 27 years in power

Uzbekistan confirmed that its President Islam Karimov, who led the republic in various capacities from 1989, has died. He led the gradual transition from a Soviet republic into a nationalist Islamic country, fighting poverty and radicalism.

Karimov died in hospital, where he was admitted on Sunday after suffering a stroke. Rumors of his death started circulating days before the official announcement, stoked by local and international media citing various anonymous sources and one of Karimov's two daughters.

On Friday morning, the Uzbek government website published a notice that the president's condition had worsened and was critical. Later in the evening an official statement announced his passing.

Karimov will be laid to rest on Saturday in Uzbekistan's second-largest city Samarkand, where he was born. On the same day, three days of national mourning will begin.

RT