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| Turkmens hold parliamentary poll | Turkmens hold parliamentary poll |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Turkmenistan is holding its first parliamentary election since adopting a new constitution earlier this year. | |
| It is the first poll to be held under President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who has promised to end the Central Asian nation's international isolation. | It is the first poll to be held under President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who has promised to end the Central Asian nation's international isolation. |
| The authorities say the vote is an important democratic step, but critics question the validity of the process. | The authorities say the vote is an important democratic step, but critics question the validity of the process. |
| There are no independent candidates, and those standing represent the ruling party or affiliated organisations. | There are no independent candidates, and those standing represent the ruling party or affiliated organisations. |
| A small team of monitors from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will oversee the voting, which is taking place between 0800 (0300 GMT) and 1800 (1300 GMT) on Sunday. | |
| One-party state | One-party state |
| Sunday's election is an important step in the modern history of Turkmenistan, with the country's parliament set to regain its legislative powers. | Sunday's election is an important step in the modern history of Turkmenistan, with the country's parliament set to regain its legislative powers. |
| There are 288 candidates contesting 125 seats, and 2.5 million eligible voters. | There are 288 candidates contesting 125 seats, and 2.5 million eligible voters. |
| President Berdymukhamedov has promised more reforms to come | President Berdymukhamedov has promised more reforms to come |
| Until now the country's main law-making body was the People's Council, with 2,507 appointed members. | Until now the country's main law-making body was the People's Council, with 2,507 appointed members. |
| The council would gather once a year to applaud any proposal made by the late President, Saparmurat Niyazov, who died in 2006 after 21 years in power. | The council would gather once a year to applaud any proposal made by the late President, Saparmurat Niyazov, who died in 2006 after 21 years in power. |
| The country's new leader, Mr Berdymukhamedov, a former dentist, has introduced a number of measures to modernise the gas-rich nation. | The country's new leader, Mr Berdymukhamedov, a former dentist, has introduced a number of measures to modernise the gas-rich nation. |
| Abolishing the People's Council and reinstating the country's parliament is one of them. | Abolishing the People's Council and reinstating the country's parliament is one of them. |
| The president has invited a team of monitors from the OSCE to oversee the election, although it says the lack of a full monitoring mission will limit its ability to accurately observe the process. | The president has invited a team of monitors from the OSCE to oversee the election, although it says the lack of a full monitoring mission will limit its ability to accurately observe the process. |
| Some analysts have already questioned how democratic it can be. | Some analysts have already questioned how democratic it can be. |
| Campaigning is said to have been orchestrated by the government, there are no independent candidates, and those contesting seats either represent the ruling Democratic Party - the only registered party - or state-affiliated organisations. | Campaigning is said to have been orchestrated by the government, there are no independent candidates, and those contesting seats either represent the ruling Democratic Party - the only registered party - or state-affiliated organisations. |
| Ethnic minorities, such as the sizeable Uzbek community, have meanwhile not been permitted to nominate their own candidates. | Ethnic minorities, such as the sizeable Uzbek community, have meanwhile not been permitted to nominate their own candidates. |