The British ambassador at the centre of a storm of controversy, Craig Murray, is expected to return to his post in Uzbekistan on Saturday. Mr Murray, a vocal champion of human rights, left in September for London provoking speculation that he had been removed for political reasons. The British Government has said only that he was unwell and went to London for medical treatment. Mr Murray made waves with a sensational speech to Uzbek leaders and diplomats. Uzbekistan was not a functioning democracy, he said, nor did it appear to be moving in the direction of democracy. There was worse, he went on - there were believed to be 7-10,000 people in detention considered to be political and/or religious prisoners. No ambassador had spoken out so bluntly before, and the timing made the speech even more startling. It was 2002. When Mr Murray flew to London unexpectedly six weeks ago, rumour had it that he had been recalled, possibly under US pressure. The British press picked up the story, some papers making a hero of him. The British Government has said only that Mr Murray was receiving medical treatment and it was true that he had been in a London hospital. Mr Murray\'s return may put an end to the story in Britain but it still resounds in Uzbekistan, where various groups have taken sides. One human rights group has been marching up and down outside the British Embassy shouting: \"Craig Murray, we love you.\" A rival group also staged a small demonstration against the ambassador. (BBC)