Uzbekistan President Karimov dies at 78

Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov has died at the age of 78 after suffering from stroke confirmed diplomatic sources. President Karimov who has been in the hospital since Saturday last week died on Friday September 2, and did not leave an obvious successor to take over the most populous nation in Central Asia.

The Uzbek government who are yet to make the announcement earlier in a statement on Friday said that the health of president Karimov, sharply deteriorated.
A diplomatic source said "Yes, he has died," when asked about president Karimov's condition.

Karimov who has long been criticized by the West and human rights groups for his authoritarian style of leadership had ruled Uzbekistan since 1989, first as the leader of the local Communist Party and then as president of the newly independent republic from 1991.

Karimov did not appoint a successor before his death and political analysts say the choosing of the next president would likely be decided behind closed doors by a small group of senior officials and family members of Karimov.