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Turkmenistan President dead

Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW: Turkmenistan's authoritarian President-for-life Saparmurat Niyazov has died, raising concerns about stability in the gas-rich but impoverished Central Asian country of 5 million.

Mr. Niyazov (66), died in the early hours of Thursday of cardiac arrest, a Government communique said. He ruled Turkmenistan with an iron fist for 21 years, the longest stay in power for any leader in the post-Soviet states. Mr. Niyazov held the posts of President, Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief and head of the Democratic Party — the only legal political party in Turkmenistan. He tolerated no dissent and often reshuffled his Cabinet, sending many Ministers to prison. He created a huge personality cult, with thousands of statues of him erected throughout the country, and some months and days of the week named after himself and his mother. In 2002 the hand-picked People's Council voted to declare Turkmenbashi, or "the father of all Turkmen", President for life. A vast majority of Turkmen live in abject poverty, even though Mr. Niyazov abolished payment for natural gas, electricity, salt and a monthly ration of rice. Mr. Niyazov left no designated successor and analysts do not rule out a fierce power struggle in Turkmenistan.

First signs of such struggle emerged on Thursday, when Deputy Prime Minister Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, said to be related to Mr. Niyazov, was named acting President, even though it is the head of Parliament who should have taken over as acting President until elections are called within two months.

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