Uzbek President Islam Karimov has said that his country has been invited to join the Shanghai Group which includes China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Mr Karimov said the new grouping would be known as the Shanghai Organization of Cooperation, and its main focus would be regional security. Mr Karimov was speaking at the opening of a new session of parliament. He also spoke about Uzbekistan's own security and declared the country was ready to resist any rebel incursions that might occur this year. (BBC)