President Karimov is laid to rest

The long-serving leader is hailed as a true statesman

Uzbekistan's leader Islam Karimov was hailed as a statesman and democrat by his government as he was laid to rest on Saturday in the ancient silk road city of Samarkand.

The coffin of 78-year-old Karimov, whose death from a cerebral hemorrhage was announced on Friday, was placed in the renowned Registan Square, flanked on three sides by Islamic schools covered in intricate, colorful tiles and topped with aqua cupolas.