This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6198983.stm

The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
Turkmenistan's 'iron ruler' dies Turkmenistan's 'iron ruler' dies
(30 minutes later)
Turkmenistan's authoritarian president Saparmurat Niyazov, who ruled the Central Asian country for 21 years, has died aged 66, state TV has reported.Turkmenistan's authoritarian president Saparmurat Niyazov, who ruled the Central Asian country for 21 years, has died aged 66, state TV has reported.
He was the centre of a personality cult with cities and airports named after him. He has no designated successor. Niyazov, who named cities and airports after himself in a bizarre personality cult, left no designated successor.
Turkmenistan has large gas reserves, but now faces an uncertain future as outside powers scramble for influence over resources, analysts say. Turkmenistan, which has large gas reserves, now faces an uncertain future with rival groups and outside powers scrambling for influence, analysts say.
Mr Niyazov died of a sudden cardiac arrest, it was announced. Niyazov died at 0110 local time (2010 GMT Wednesday) of a heart attack.
According to Turkmen law, the president is succeeded by the head of the legislative body, the People's Assembly. But this post was held by Mr Niyazov himself.
His funeral is set to take place on 24 December in the capital, Ashgabat.
Deputy Prime Minister Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov was named head of the commission handling the funeral, state television said.
Last month, the president publicly acknowledged he had heart disease.Last month, the president publicly acknowledged he had heart disease.
His funeral is set to take place on 24 December in the capital, Ashgabat.
Deputy Prime Minister Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has been named head of the commission handling the funeral, state television said.
President Niyazov was in effect the state and what he decreed on any subject, from politics, to culture to science, was absolute law Michael HallCentral Asia analyst
According to Turkmen law, the president is succeeded by the head of the legislative body, the People's Assembly. But this post was held by Mr Niyazov himself.
Turkmenistan has called an emergency meeting of its highest representative body for 26 December to decide on Mr Niyazov's succession, the government said.
Mr Berdymukhamedov has also been named acting head of state until then, according to government sources.
The cabinet of ministers and the National Security Council in Turkmenistan have held emergency sessions to discuss the situation.
UncertaintyUncertainty
Analysts say Mr Niyazov's legacy is grim: education, healthcare, society generally have crumbled under his leadership. Analysts say Mr Niyazov's legacy is grim: education, healthcare, society generally have crumbled under his rule.
SAPARMURAT NIYAZOV Became head of Communist Party in Turkmenistan in 1985Styled himself Turkmenbashi, Father of the TurkmenBuilt up a cult of personality, with cities, airports and months named after himIntroduced bizarre laws, banning young men from wearing beards and listening to car radiosPoverty remained rife in the energy-rich countryNiyazov publicly acknowledged taking medicine for a heart condition Obituary: President Niyazov In pictures: Turkmen life SAPARMURAT NIYAZOV Became head of Communist Party in Turkmenistan in 1985Styled himself Turkmenbashi, Father of the TurkmenBuilt up a cult of personality, with cities, airports and months named after himIntroduced bizarre laws, banning young men from wearing beards and listening to car radiosPoverty remained rife in the energy-rich countryNiyazov publicly acknowledged taking medicine for a heart condition Obituary: President Niyazov In pictures: Turkmen life
"President Niyazov was in effect the state and what he decreed on any subject, from politics, to culture to science, was absolute law," says Michael Hall, Central Asia project director for the International Crisis Group."President Niyazov was in effect the state and what he decreed on any subject, from politics, to culture to science, was absolute law," says Michael Hall, Central Asia project director for the International Crisis Group.
His death will come as a psychological blow for most of the country.
"There has been an entire generation of young Turkmens who have been brought up in exactly this spirit, but at the same time there is an older generation who do remember what life was like before Niyazov came to power... But for a very large part of the population this will come as a great blow," he told the BBC World Service's World Today programme.
A mostly Muslim nation, Turkmenistan boasts the world's fifth largest natural gas reserves as well as substantial oil resources.A mostly Muslim nation, Turkmenistan boasts the world's fifth largest natural gas reserves as well as substantial oil resources.
"Turkmenistan has massive reserves of natural gas that a number of countries have been competing to get access to, including Russia, China and other countries, so I think there will be a certain scramble for influence with whatever government might emerge," Mr Hall adds.
Cult of personalityCult of personality
Mr Niyazov became Communist Party chief of what was then a Soviet republic in 1985 and was elected first president of independent Turkmenistan in 1991.Mr Niyazov became Communist Party chief of what was then a Soviet republic in 1985 and was elected first president of independent Turkmenistan in 1991.
In 1999, he was made president-for-life by the country's rubber-stamp parliament.
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.
He renamed months and days in the calendar after himself and his family, and ordered statues of himself to be erected throughout the desert nation.He renamed months and days in the calendar after himself and his family, and ordered statues of himself to be erected throughout the desert nation.
Cities, an airport and a meteorite were given his name.Cities, an airport and a meteorite were given his name.
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.
His laws became increasingly personal. It was forbidden to listen to car radios or smoke in public, or for young men to wear beards.His laws became increasingly personal. It was forbidden to listen to car radios or smoke in public, or for young men to wear beards.
An alleged assassination attempt in 2002 was used to crush his few remaining opponents.An alleged assassination attempt in 2002 was used to crush his few remaining opponents.
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.
What is your reaction to the news about Niyazov's death? Send us your comments using the form below:
What is your reaction to the news about Niyazov's death? Send us your comments using the form below:
Name
 Name