Uzbekistan announces death of President Islam Karimov

Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan's strongman president has died, aged 78.

Karimov's death was confirmed by Tashkent on Friday. He had been hospitalised after suffering a stroke six days ago.

The funeral will take place today.

Karimov ruled the country for 27 years and is accused of harshly repressing dissent by human rights groups. A United Nations report has described the use of torture under Karimov's regime as "systematic".

The late leader often justified these measures by pointing to the danger of Islamist militancy faced by mainly Muslim Uzbekistan.