Uzbek President Karimov has died: Turkish PM

Ailing Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov has passed away, according to Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.

Uzbek authorities have yet to confirm the news.

"Uzbek President Islam Karimov has died. May Allah rest him in peace," Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said.

Afghan and Kyrgyz diplomats also said their country's leaders would attend the 78-year-old's funeral. 

Karimov, who has been the president of Uzbekistan since 1990, was admitted to a hospital last Sunday after he suffered a stroke, Uzbek officials said. 

Karimov's death has not left behind any successor. The decision to appoint the next president would be taken by a small group of top Uzbek officials, Reuters reported.

The West has always accused Karimov of governing the country with an iron fist.

His supporters, however, insist that he had to do it to stave off presence of radical forces in the Muslim-dominated country.

(WION with inputs from agencies)