The Russian federal security service, the FSB, has denied charges by the President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, that it played a role in a dispute between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

The FSB said President Karimov had been misled into making the allegations.

The statement, quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency, said Russian agents had met Tajik officials in November but the meeting was not related to the recent rebellion in northern Tajikistan.

President Karimov had accused Russian intelligence of trying to stir up trouble between Uzbeks and Tajiks.