Uzbekistan and Russia pledge on extremism

The Presidents of Russia and Uzbekistan, Vladimir Putin and Islam Karimov, have promised to fight together against the rise of terrorism and religious extremism in Central Asia.

After meeting in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, Mr Putin said an arc of instability had formed on the southern borders of the Commonwealth of Independent States and any threat to Uzbekistan was a threat to Russia.

President Karimov said his country was looking to Russia for protection in the fight against extremism.

Afterwards, Mr Putin flew to Turkmenistan on the second-leg of his trip to Central Asia -- his first official visit abroad since his inauguration.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service