Uzbek President Islam Karimov has died after suffering a stroke at the age of 78 on Friday, 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 Aug. 27, had sharply deteriorated.

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

Uzbekistan is a major cotton exporter which is also rich in gold and natural gas. A hint at who is going to succeed Karimov may come with the government’s announcement of his death – which one of the sources said was expected later on Friday – and whoever it names to head of the commission in charge of organizing the funeral.

Ersin Arslan / Stockholm – DHA