The authorities in Uzbekistan have sent to jail seven men found guilty of belonging to illegal Islamic groups.

The judge in Tashkent handed down sentences of six to ten years.

Summing up, he described the men as ardent supporters of what he called "Wahhabism", who were trying to set up an Islamic state.

The prosecution said some of those convicted had secretly visited Tajikistan for meetings with Tajik Islamic leaders.

This is the second trial of its kind in recent weeks.