The authorities in Uzbekistan have begun a drive to check all the mosques in the country, and close down those considered illegal.

The state religious body, the Muftiat, said there were about three-thousand mosques with ambiguous status, which would have to be examined.

Those deemed improper are to be converted into secular institutions, such as nurseries, shops, or sports centres.

Local journalists in Narin say twenty-two mosques in Narin have already been closed.

The authorities have not spelt out what criteria they areusing to judge the mosques, but correspondents say it is likely the failures will be those whose leaders have not passed tests set by the state.

At the same time, the trial of seven men accused of belonging to illegal Islamic cells has ended at the Supreme Court in Tashkent.

The judge is due to pass sentence in the next few days.