A court in Uzbekistan has been hearing the case against several men accused of trying to overthrow the government.

Three of the men -- two brothers of the exiled Uzbek opposition leader, Mohammed Solih, Komil and Mohammed Bekjon and the well-known writer, Mahmadali Mahmoudov -- have pleaded not guilty.

Their lawyer said the men had retracted earlier confessions which had been forced out of them by beatings.

They are accused along with three others of involvement in a plot allegedly masterminded by Mohammed Solih to force the Uzbek president, Islam Karimov, to stand down. The BBC Central Asia correspondent says the trial is one of the most high profile in the government's campaign against those it accuses of trying to overthrow President Karimov.