Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov Dies at the age of 78 Friday Sep 02,2016

Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov has died after suffering a stroke at the age of 78, three diplomatic sources told Reuters on Friday Sep 02,2016, leaving no obvious successor to take over Central Asia's most populous nation.

The Uzbek government did not immediately confirm the reports. Earlier on Friday it said in a statement that the health of Karimov, who has been in hospital since last Saturday, had sharply deteriorated.

Uzbekistan honor guards stand next to a large portrait of the late President Islam Karimov and his awards in Samarkand today

 A farewell ceremony was held for Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov near Tashkent International Airport today

People stand along a road today to pay the tribute to the memory of Uzbek late President Islam Karimov as a mourning motorcade drive by in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

People hold flowers as they gather along the road to watch the funeral procession of President Islam Karimov in Samarkand

Long criticized by the West and human rights groups for his authoritarian style of leadership, Islam Karimov had ruled Uzbekistan since 1989, first as the boss of the local Communist Party and then as president of the newly independent republic from 1991