Russia and Uzbekistan sign deals

Uzbekistan and Russia have concluded a number of agreements on economic and scientific co-operation, including the peaceful use of nuclear energy, during a visit by the Russian Prime Minister, Viktor Chernomyrdin.

After a meeting in the capital, Tashkent, the Uzbek President, Islam Karimov, was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying the agreements reflected Uzbekistan's wish to restore and develop its ties with Russia.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service