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Uzbek Officials Deny Karimov Health Reports


Uzbek President Islam Karimov
Uzbek President Islam Karimov
TASHKENT -- An Uzbek senator is denying reports that President Islam Karimov is having health problems.

Svetlana Ortiqova told RFE/RL that Karimov is in perfect shape and may attend the senate's session on March 28.

Websites associated with exiled Uzbek opposition groups reported that Karimov suffered a serious heart attack last week.

They cited sources within the Uzbek government on March 26, saying his condition was described as "grave."

On her Twitter account, Karimov's daughter, Gulnara Karimova, said that anyone who says her father is ill "must be crazy."

She pointed out that Karimov was shown on television last week dancing for about 20 minutes during Norouz celebrations in Tashkent.

Karimov, 75, a former Communist Party leader, has been ruling his country for almost 25 years.

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