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Niyazov successor nominated

Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW: The acting President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, is likely to succeed Turkmenistan's long-time leader Saparmurat Niyazov, who died last Thursday.

Mr. Berdymukhammedov's candidacy was unanimously supported by the 2,500-member People's Council, Turkmenistan's top legislative body, which met in the capital Ashgabat on Tuesday.

Mr. Berdymukhammedov, 49-year-old former Deputy Prime Minister, was appointed acting President after Parliament Speaker Overzgeldy Atayev, who should have taken the post under the Constitution, was arrested on criminal charges within hours of Niyazov's death.

The People's Council unanimously voted to set new presidential elections for February 11 and modify the Constitution to provide for the election of the President by a nation-wide vote. (Niyazov was voted President for Life by People's Council).

The legislators also lifted a constitutional ban on the acting head of state running for the presidency. This clears the way for the election of Mr. Berdymukhamedov as the country's next leader. This is the first time Turkmenistan is choosing its President from several candidates.

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