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| Authoritarian Turkmen leader dies | Authoritarian Turkmen leader dies |
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| 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 died at about 0110 local time (2010 GMT Wednesday) of a sudden cardiac arrest, it was announced. | He died at about 0110 local time (2010 GMT Wednesday) of a sudden cardiac arrest, it was announced. |
| In 1999 he was made president-for-life by the legislative body of the energy-rich country. | In 1999 he was made president-for-life by the legislative body of the energy-rich country. |
| He was the centre of a personality cult that saw cities and airports named after him. | He was the centre of a personality cult that saw cities and airports named after him. |
| His funeral is set to take place on 24 December in the capital, Ashgabat. | 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. | 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. |
| Uncertainty | Uncertainty |
| 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 leadership. |
| SAPARMURAT NIYAZOV Became head of Communist Party in Turkmenistan in 1985Stayed leader after independence, later becoming president for lifeStyled himself Turkmenbashi, Father of the TurkmenBuilt up a cult of personality, with cities, airports and even calendar months named after himIntroduced bizarre laws, such as banning young men from wearing beards and from listening to car radiosAllowed no dissent, and poverty was rife in the energy-rich countryNiyazov publicly acknowledged taking medicine for a heart condition Obituary: President Niyazov | |
| "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. | 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. | "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 with large oil and gas resources, the country now faces an uncertain future following Mr Niyazov's death, as there are no clear successors. | A mostly Muslim nation with large oil and gas resources, the country now faces an uncertain future following Mr Niyazov's death, as there are no clear successors. |
| According to Turkmen law, the president is succeeded by the head of the legislative body, the People's Assembly. However, this post was held by Mr Niyazov himself. | According to Turkmen law, the president is succeeded by the head of the legislative body, the People's Assembly. However, this post was held by Mr Niyazov himself. |
| "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. | "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 personality | Cult 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. |
| 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: |