Uzbekistan today headed to the polls to elect a President to replace late strongman Islam Karimov, with all signs pointing towards a comfortable victory for his long-serving Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev. <br/><br/>Mirziyoyev, who was appointed prime minister in 2003, became interim President following Karimov's death in September after he suffered a reported stroke. <br/><br/>Representing the Liberal-Democratic Party that Karimov represented in the last presidential vote in 2015, Mirziyoyev is facing three other challengers in a bid to secure a five-year term. <br/><br/>But analysts note the other candidates are not critical of Mirziyoyev or the regime in the country bordering Afghanistan where Beijing, Moscow, and Washington all vie for influence.