Polls have opened in Uzbekistan for the Central Asian country's presidential election. Voters are to choose from four candidates, including the current president Islam Karimov.
Karimov has been in power for 18 years and is expected to be the front-runner in the vote. The forthcoming election will be monitored by almost 300 international observers. Human rights groups have often criticised his regime for violating basic freedoms. The president will be elected for a seven-year term. A turnout of 33% is the minimum threshold for the results to be recognised.