Authoritarian Turkmen president dead

ASHGABAT: Turkmenistan's authoritarian President Saparmurat Niyazov, who ruled his gas-rich Central Asian nation with an iron fist for more than 20 years, died early Thursday of a heart attack, state media announced. He was 66.   

"He died in the night due to sudden cardiac arrest," a statement broadcast on national television said.   

The screen showed a portrait of Niyazov -- known as Turkmenbashi, or Leader of all Turkmens, and self-proclaimed president for life -- surrounded by a black border against the background of the national flag.   

The time of death was given as 1:10 am (2010 GMT Wednesday).   

Flags were lowered throughout the capital, all 23 government-owned newspapers halted publication, and the government canceled public New Year's festivities. "We are all in shock," a senior official said.   

Analysts forecast a power struggle following the exit of Niyazov, who for two decades built up a full-blown cult of personality, crushed opposition, and turned his largely desert nation of five million people into one of the world's most isolated countries.   

With massive natural gas reserves and a strategic location bordering Iran, Afghanistan and the oil-rich Caspian Sea, outside powers -- including China, Russia and the United States -- closely monitor events in the mostly Muslim ex-Soviet republic.   

The deputy prime minister, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, who is also health minister, was named interim president, according to state news agency TDH.   

Berdymukhammedov's nomination coincided with news that the speaker of parliament -- who would normally become interim leader under the constitution -- was facing a criminal investigation.   

An election must now take place within two months, according to the constitution.   

As preparations began for the funeral on Sunday in Niyazov's home village of Kipchak, the government put on a calm face, stressing that "the interior and foreign policies of Turkmenistan will be maintained."   

However, there were questions about how a country unused to change would react to the sudden power vacuum.   

The leader of the exiled Republican Party, Nurmukhammed Khanamov, told RIA Novosti news agency that opposition activists were planning to return home and form "an opposition coalition government".   

Another Republican Party figure, Bairam Shikhmuradov, accused the governing elite in Turkmenistan of grabbing power.   

"The dictator has not yet been buried and already his successors are violating the constitution. If this goes further, the world will soon get another illegitimate president of Turkmenistan," he said.   

Analyst Eduard Poletayev, at the World in Asia journal, predicted turbulent times.   

"The traditional ruling system in that state does not foresee picking out a successor from the political elite or from among the ordinary people. That's why I expect some kind of chaos and a political battle, because he didn't leave any successor," he said.   

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for "the transfer of power to be carried out in the framework of the law for the good of Turkmen citizens ... for the good of relations with Russia and for the good of stability in Central Asia."   

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that "Russia and the European Union have a very strong interest in the stability of Central Asia."   

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul also called for calm. "It is very important for us that a country like Turkmenistan, which attracts world attention with its rich natural resources, maintains stability."   

Niyazov had long suffered poor health, including heart trouble, but the exact state nature of his ailments -- like most sensitive matters of state -- was kept highly secret.   

On October 24 a team of seven medical professionals headed by a German heart specialist declared the Turkmen leader in good health following a regular check-up.   

But that month Niyazov issued a rare statement on the subject, saying: "I take medication three times a day because of heart illness."   

He underwent a heart bypass operation in Germany in 1997 and in February 2005 he was hospitalised in Ashgabat for what officials described as an eye problem.   

One of the ex-Soviet Union's harshest and also most idiosyncratic leaders, Niyazov tolerated no dissent once he cemented power in an unopposed presidential election in 1990. In 1999 he declared himself president for life.   

Watchdog groups accused him of crushing the independent media, rigging elections and committing widespread human rights abuses.   

Obsessed with personal power, Niyazov made his presence felt in every corner of the country. His likeness was omnipresent, on billboards, the national currency, and even household items ranging from carpets and vodka bottles to his own brand of perfume.   

On Ashgabat's main square, a giant golden statue of Niyazov revolves throughout the day to face the sun.   

Niyazov even substituted personal symbols for the names of the months and days, with January, for example, named after himself -- Turkmenbashi.