Uzbekistan bidding farewell to President Islam Karimov

By Bahtiyar Abdukerimov

SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan (AA) - The body of Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov, who died at age 78 this week after suffering a stroke, has been brought to his hometown Samarkand for his funeral on Saturday.

Karimov's body was sent from the capital Tashkent to Samarkand where thousands of people welcomed their president with flowers.

Karimov will be laid to rest in a family cemetery where his mother and father were buried.

The funeral will see presidents and government representatives of several countries. Deputy Prime Minister Tugrul Turkes will represent Turkey.

The country's government confirmed Karimov's death on Friday.

Karimov was Uzbekistan’s first and only president following the country became an independent nation on Aug. 31, 1991.

Karimov was the first foreign leader to ban the activities of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization, or FETO, in his country following the July 15 defeated coup in Turkey.