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A US judge has sentenced a Uzbek man to 15 years in prison for plotting to kill President Barack Obama, BBC reported.

Ulugbek Kodirov, 22, pleaded guilty in February to plotting to shoot Mr Obama as he campaigned for re-election.

According to the plea, he came up with the plan after communicating over the internet with a man he believed to be a member of an Uzbek Islamic group.

Kodirov was in the US illegally after he received a student visa, but never enrolled for any classes.

He was arrested in an Alabama motel in July 2011.

He faced up to 30 years in prison, but Judge Abdul Kallon imposed only a 15-year sentence.

During the sentencing hearing, his defence lawyer argued that Kodirov had accepted responsibility for his actions and was trying to straighten out his life.

In July 2011, the Uzbek came into communication with someone known as "the emir", who he believed was a member of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

That group has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the US state department.

Kodirov and "the emir" discussed ways in which the president could be killed, including by sniper rifle from long distance.

Kodirov then bought a Sendra M115A1 automatic rifle from an undercover agent on 13 July.

The agent also provided Kodirov with four hand grenades that had already had the powder removed from them.