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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. The people of Turkmenistan have voted in the first parliamentary election held after the adoption of 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. The Central Election Commission said that turnout was almost 90%.
It was 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 Democratic party or affiliated groups. Almost all of the 288 candidates running for 125 seats in the parliament came either from Turkmenistan's sole political party, the Democratic Party, or state-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. All candidates were funded by the state as alternative funding was banned.
One-party state Ethnic minorities, such as the sizeable Uzbek community, were not permitted to nominate their own candidates.
Sunday's election is an important step in the modern history of Turkmenistan, with the country's parliament set to regain its legislative powers. International observers
There are 288 candidates contesting 125 seats, and 2.5 million eligible voters. There was no shortage of voters in the parliamentary elections in Turkmenistan, the former Soviet republic which borders the Caspian Sea.
President Berdymukhamedov has promised more reforms to come According to the country's Central Election Commission the turnout was extremely high. Almost all of the 2.5 million people eligible cast their votes, reports said.
Until now the country's main law-making body was the People's Council, with 2,507 appointed members. President Berdymukhamedov has promised more reforms to comeState media proudly reported that Turkmen citizens living abroad were able to vote for the first time at Turkmen embassies and consulates.
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. Officials are keen to demonstrate that these elections are part of Turkmenistan's process of democratisation.
The country's new leader, Mr Berdymukhamedov, a former dentist, has introduced a number of measures to modernise the gas-rich nation. International observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe were invited to monitor the poll. They are not expected to give any formal assessment of the election proceedings.
Abolishing the People's Council and reinstating the country's parliament is one of them. Previously, Turkmenistan had a People's Council whose 2,507 members had to be approved by the country's late ruler, Saparmurat Niyazov, who died in 2006 after 21 years in power.
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 new leader, Mr Berdymukhamedov, a former dentist, has introduced a number of measures to modernise the gas-rich nation, after years of isolation under his predecessor.
Ethnic minorities, such as the sizeable Uzbek community, have meanwhile not been permitted to nominate their own candidates. Abolishing the People's Council and reinstating the country's parliament was one of them.
However the country remains largely closed to the outside world.