The Uzbek President, Islam Karimov, has dismissed his most senior aide, Ismail Jurabekov, widely regarded as the second most powerful man in Uzbekistan.

A presidential decree said Mr Jurabekov was being relieved of his post after reaching retirement age ;he is sixty-seven.

Mr Jurabekov controlled major sectors of the economy, including the country's main hard currency earner, the cotton trade.

A BBC correspondent in Tashkent says his removal will be seen as a significant consolidation of Mr Karimov's power.