A religious figure in Uzbekistan, who was known to have close ties with prominent Islamic clerics, has died in police custody in Tashkent.

The body of the man, Kabiljan Muradov, was returned to his family a few days ago.

The authorities have dismissed reports that he was beaten while detained.

Mr Muradov was the deputy of one of two Islamic clerics whom the Uzbek authorities accuse of trying to overthrow the country's secular constitution.

Five other people said to have been linked to the clerics are on trial in Tashkent, charged with Islamic extremist activites.

The BBC Central Asia correspondent says his death is likely to be a severe embarrassment to the authorities, who have already been accused of rounding up hundreds of people to stop what they say is the spread of radical Islam from Uzbekistan's neighbours.

The result of a medical examination on Mr Muradov's body are expected tomorrow