There are conflicting reports about whether ​Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov has died. This follows a week of speculation about the president's health. "Dear compatriots, it is with a heavy heart that we inform you that the health of our President has sharply deteriorated in the past 24 hours to reach a critical state, according to the doctors," the government said in a statement. The uncertainty over Karimov's health has raised concerns that Uzbekistan could face prolonged infighting among clans over leadership claims, something Islamic radicals could exploit. Uzbekistan is a major cotton exporter, and it is also rich in gold and natural gas.

Source: CBC News September 02, 2016 09:00 UTC