Uzbek President against pullout of U.S. servicemen from Central Asia

The president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, has spoken up against the withdrawal of American servicemen from Central Asia until peace and stability come to the region. Karimov said this in Dushanbe, where he had arrived to participate in a summit of member countries of the Central Asian Cooperation Organisation.

"Americans should stay here as long as is required to bring stability and ensure peace in Afghanistan," said Karimov.

The Uzbek president said that Afghanistan should become "a zone of peace and accord with the neighbours and meet all international norms." In his opinion, this cannot be brought about without backing the decisions on giving a massive financial support for Afghanistan.

If the impoverished people of Afghanistan get no financial aid, they will lose trust in Khamid Karzai and the central government and then a new stage of tensions and ethnic clashes will begin, believes Islam Karimov.