It was often the case in Soviet times, reports CNN, that the leader of the funeral commission was the one to take over the role of leader.
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Opposition media reports say that in dealings with his own subordinates, Mirziyoyev can fly into a temper and will resort to swearing and curses to make his point.
It appears that Karimov has left no designated successor to take over from him but analysts agree the next president looks certain to come from the small group of loyalists around the strongman. In the capital Tashkent, the cortege drove to the airport. Video footage showed thousands of people along the route, many throwing flowers at the procession.
Karimov’s body was then loaded by soldiers onto an aircraft bound for Samarkand in front of his black-clad widow and youngest daughter. Police there have cordoned off the centre of the city.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev, viewed as a possible successor.
The first president of Uzbekistan 78 years old Islam Karimov died on 2nd September 2016 due to a stroke.
Reports from diplomatic sources suggested several regional leaders were making plans to visit Samarkand for the funeral, with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev expected to represent Russian Federation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Saturday that China had lost a “true friend” with the death of Mr Karimov, in a message of condolence to a country Beijing considers an important partner in its war on terror.
The Uzbek Constitution states that if the president is unable to perform his duties the head of the upper chamber of parliament assumes presidential authority for a period of three months.
The house arrest of the once-untouchable Gulnara Karimova, 44, came after a war of words played out in the worldwide media during which she accused her mother and younger sister of sorcery, and assailed the country’s security chief on Twitter for harbouring presidential ambitions. “I choose my words and can not believe it myself…”
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was “saddened” at Karimov’s death and paid tribute to his efforts “to develop strong ties between Uzbekistan and the United Nations as well as strengthen regional and global peace and security”, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
If they fail to agree on a compromise, however, open confrontation could destabilise the mainly Muslim state of 32 million people, which shares a border with Afghanistan and has become a target for Islamist militants.
The Interfax news agency said the square was packed with thousands of men – women were excluded – to hear a mufti give a funeral prayer that said “Islam Karimov served his people”.
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“For years and years Karimov was shutting down any type of opposition, throwing in jail anybody who he believed could challenge the regime”, she said.
