Uzbek President Karimov dead
Reuters, Almaty :
Uzbek President Islam Karimov has died aged 78 after suffering a stroke, three diplomatic sources told Reuters on Friday,
leaving no obvious successor to take over the Central Asian nation. The Uzbek government did not immediately confirm the reports. Earlier on Friday it said the health of Karimov, who has been in hospital since last Saturday, had sharply deteriorated. Long criticized by the West and human rights groups for his authoritarian style of leadership, Karimov had ruled Uzbekistan since 1989, first as the head of the local Communist Party and then as president of the newly independent republic from 1991.
“Yes, he has died,” one of the diplomatic sources said when asked about Karimov’s condition. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim became the first foreign leader to offer condolences over the death of Karimov. The two countries have close ethnic, cultural and linguistic ties.
Karimov did not designate a successor and analysts say the transition of power is likely to be decided behind closed doors by a small group of senior officials and family members. If they fail to agree on a compromise, however, open confrontation could destabilize Uzbekistan, which shares a border with Afghanistan and has become a target for Islamist militants. Uzbekistan is a major cotton exporter and is also rich in gold and natural gas. A hint at who will succeed Karimov may come with the government’s announcement of his death – which one source said was expected later on Friday – and whoever it names to head the commission in charge of organizing the funeral. The funeral appeared likely to take place in Karimov’s hometown of Samarkand, where his mother and two brothers are also buried. Municipal authorities there mobilized public workers to clean the central streets late on Thursday.
Uzbek President Islam Karimov has died aged 78 after suffering a stroke, three diplomatic sources told Reuters on Friday,
leaving no obvious successor to take over the Central Asian nation. The Uzbek government did not immediately confirm the reports. Earlier on Friday it said the health of Karimov, who has been in hospital since last Saturday, had sharply deteriorated. Long criticized by the West and human rights groups for his authoritarian style of leadership, Karimov had ruled Uzbekistan since 1989, first as the head of the local Communist Party and then as president of the newly independent republic from 1991.
“Yes, he has died,” one of the diplomatic sources said when asked about Karimov’s condition. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim became the first foreign leader to offer condolences over the death of Karimov. The two countries have close ethnic, cultural and linguistic ties.
Karimov did not designate a successor and analysts say the transition of power is likely to be decided behind closed doors by a small group of senior officials and family members. If they fail to agree on a compromise, however, open confrontation could destabilize Uzbekistan, which shares a border with Afghanistan and has become a target for Islamist militants. Uzbekistan is a major cotton exporter and is also rich in gold and natural gas. A hint at who will succeed Karimov may come with the government’s announcement of his death – which one source said was expected later on Friday – and whoever it names to head the commission in charge of organizing the funeral. The funeral appeared likely to take place in Karimov’s hometown of Samarkand, where his mother and two brothers are also buried. Municipal authorities there mobilized public workers to clean the central streets late on Thursday.
