Uzbek poet 'sentenced over demo'

A dissident poet in Uzbekistan has been sentenced to five years' forced labour, a rights organisation says.

The Human Rights Defenders Initiative group said Yusuf Juma was convicted of resisting arrest and assaulting police officers - charges he denies.

Mr Yusuf, who is a critic of President Islam Karimov, was arrested in December 2007 after taking part in a protest.

His son Bobur Yusuf was given a three-year suspended sentence by the same court, in the city of Bukhara.

Mr Bobur had admitted the charges - though another of Mr Juma's sons, Alisher Yusuf, told the BBC Uzbek service that his brother had been tortured.

Alisher Yusuf said his brother had only pleaded guilty after being told their father would get a 20-year sentence if he refused to admit the crimes.