Tajikistan and Uzbekistan introduce visas

Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have decided that their citizens will need visas to visit each other's countries.

The agreement, which needs to be ratified, will affect thousands of Tajiks and Uzbeks who regularly cross the border to visit relatives or to work and trade.

Under the agreement, about twenty border districts will be exempt from the visa regulations.

Tajikistan and Uzbekistan say the introduction of visas is necessary to boost border security.

They say the porous borders are used by criminals and Islamic militants.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service