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| Turkmenistan leader dies aged 66 | Turkmenistan leader dies aged 66 |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov, who ruled the gas-rich Central Asian country for 21 years, has died aged 66, state television has reported. | Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov, who ruled the gas-rich Central Asian country for 21 years, has died aged 66, state television has reported. |
| He reportedly died at about 0110 local time (2010 GMT Wednesday) of a sudden cardiac arrest, the TV said. | |
| Mr Niyazov became the country's Communist Party chief in 1985 and was elected the first president of independent Turkmenistan in 1991. | Mr Niyazov became the country's Communist Party chief in 1985 and was elected the first president of independent Turkmenistan in 1991. |
| Mr Niyazov was known to be taking medication for a heart condition. | Mr Niyazov was known to be taking medication for a heart condition. |
| In 1999 the supreme legislative body, the Mejlis, made him president-for-life. | In 1999 the supreme legislative body, the Mejlis, made him president-for-life. |
| SAPARMURAT NIYAZOV In power of the former Soviet state since 1985Made president-for-life in 1999Established a cult of personality and tolerated no dissent Styled himself Turkmenbashi, or Leader of all TurkmensPublicly acknowledged he took medicine for a heart condition | SAPARMURAT NIYAZOV In power of the former Soviet state since 1985Made president-for-life in 1999Established a cult of personality and tolerated no dissent Styled himself Turkmenbashi, or Leader of all TurkmensPublicly acknowledged he took medicine for a heart condition |
| During his reign, Mr Niyazov established a cult of personality in which he was styled as Turkmenbashi, or Leader of all Turkmens. | During his reign, Mr Niyazov established a cult of personality in which he was styled as Turkmenbashi, or Leader of all Turkmens. |
| Mr Niyazov was intolerant of criticism and allowed no political opposition or free media in the nation of five million people. | Mr Niyazov was intolerant of criticism and allowed no political opposition or free media in the nation of five million people. |
| All candidates in the December 2004 parliamentary elections, at which there were no foreign observers, were his supporters. | All candidates in the December 2004 parliamentary elections, at which there were no foreign observers, were his supporters. |
| Analysts say Turkmenistan, a mostly Muslim nation with large oil and gas resources, faces an uncertain future after Mr Niyazov's death, as there are no clear successors. | Analysts say Turkmenistan, a mostly Muslim nation with large oil and gas resources, faces an uncertain future after Mr Niyazov's death, as there are no clear successors. |