Islam Karimov: Turkey announces Uzbek leader's death
zbek President Islam Karimov, one of Asia's most authoritarian leaders, has died, Turkey says - despite no official Uzbek confirmation.
Mr Karimov, 78 and in power since 1989, was taken to hospital last week after a brain haemorrhage but the government has only said he is critically ill.
Uzbek state TV channels have dropped light entertainment programmes.
Unnamed diplomatic sources in several countries have confirmed the death, and even funeral plans, to news agencies.
Reuters quoted three such sources while Associated Press cited an unnamed Afghan official as saying President Ashraf Ghani planned to attend Mr Karimov's funeral on Saturday.
An unnamed Kyrgyz diplomat told AP the country's prime minister had also been invited to the funeral.
Mr Karimov has no clear successor. There is no legal political opposition and the media are tightly controlled by the state.
A UN report has described the use of torture as "systematic". Mr Karimov often justified his strong-arm tactics by highlighting the danger from Islamist militancy in the mainly Muslim country, which borders Afghanistan.
On Friday, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told a televised meeting Mr Karimov had died.
"Uzbek President Islam Karimov has passed away," Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said in a cabinet meeting broadcast live.
"May God's mercy be upon him, as the Turkish Republic we are sharing the pain and sorrow of Uzbek people."