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The British ambassador to Uzbekistan has been flown back to London after being taken ill, days after he returned to his post following a scandal over alleged misconduct and his condemnation of the Central Asian state's human rights record.

Craig Murray, 44, Britain's youngest ambassador, left Tashkent on Tuesday night following severe chest pains, friends said. It is understood he was suffering from a suspected embolism but has stabilised in intensive care.

He returned to Tashkent on Saturday after a two-month absence. He had been sent back to London after being diagnosed with "nervous exhaustion" in September, amid an investigation into alleged fraternising with locals, bad driving and drunkenness.

Friends said the allegations were a smear campaign against Mr Murray, who had angered Downing Street and Washington with criticism of their new ally in the war on terror over its appalling human rights record. Uzbekistan let the Pentagon establish a military base near its border with Afghanistan.

Mr Murray was reportedly told in September he could resign or be sacked.

A friend said he was stricken with chest pains on Sunday. "By chance the Foreign Office's regional medical officer was passing through from Delhi." Mr Murray left on a private jet and is in St Thomas's hospital, London.