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Speaker sacked, arrested

Foreign states keenly watch gas-rich nation

ALMATY (Kazakhstan): Turkmenistan's acting President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has sacked the country's Parliament Speaker Ovezgeldy Atayev, Turkmen state television reported on Saturday.

``You have been relieved from the post of Parliament Speaker,'' Mr. Berdymukhamedov said on state television after the chamber voted to strip Mr. Atayev of his immunity. Mr. Atayev was accused of abuse of power and violation of citizens' rights. He was arrested shortly afterwards.

According to Turkmen Constitution, Mr. Atayev was eligible to become interim President after the central nation's leader Saparmurat Niyazov died on Thursday.

Xinhua

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