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Turkmenistan to announce election Turkmen assembly to set poll date
(about 4 hours later)
Turkmenistan is to hold a meeting of its People's Council on Tuesday to announce a date for elections to succeed Saparmurat Niyazov. Turkmenistan's top legislative body is preparing to meet to set the date for elections following the death of President Saparmurat Niyazov.
The council is also expected to announce candidates for the presidency. Mr Niyazov - who styled himself as the Father of All Turkmen - died last Thursday, leaving no political heir and raising fears of instability.
Deputy Prime Minister and health minister Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has been named acting president.Deputy Prime Minister and health minister Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has been named acting president.
Thousands of mourners paid their respects on Sunday at the funeral of the late president, who died Thursday from a sudden heart attack. Thousands paid their respects at Mr Niyazov's funeral on Sunday.
Turkmens filed past Mr Niyazov's body as it lay in state in the presidential palace in the capital, Ashgabat. Exiles' vow
The body of the self-styled "Father of All Turkmens" was then buried in his home village, next to his parents. Buses have been carrying delegates of the People's Council into the capital, Ashgabat, from all over the country for the meeting, which is due to begin at 1400 local time (0900 GMT).
Grim legacy The 2,500-member strong council of clan elders and local government officials, is expected to fix a date for presidential elections and nominate candidates.
There are now fears of instability in a country that is a key supplier of natural gas to Europe. Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov is the acting president
Turkmenistan has the world's fifth-largest stocks of natural gas, and has borders with Iran and with Afghanistan. However, exiled Turkmen political figures have vowed to overthrow any new leader who does not introduce reforms.
The authoritarian rule of the late Turkmen leader lasted 21 years Heads of state from across Central Asia, and high-ranking delegations from elsewhere attended the ceremonies in Ashgabat. They have said the opposition will soon announce a single, jointly chosen presidential candidate.
The manoeuvring to find his successor is being keenly watched, says the BBC's Natalia Antelava. They have also urged Western nations and those of the former Soviet Union to help bring about democratic presidential elections.
Our correspondent says exiled opposition groups are already lobbying to return to the country, adding that inside the country signs of a power struggle are emerging. On Sunday, people filed past Mr Niyazov's body as it lay in state in the presidential palace in Ashgabat.
A tank carried Mr Niyazov's coffin away from the presidential palace and to the village of his birth outside Ashgabat, where he was buried. Some of the thousands of people who came to pay their respects appeared grief-stricken by the death of their leader.
Earlier, some of the thousands of people who came to pay their respects appeared grief-stricken by the death of their leader.
Many bowed and carried flowers, and some people wept openly as they approached his coffin.Many bowed and carried flowers, and some people wept openly as they approached his coffin.
Heads of state from across Central Asia, and high-ranking delegations from elsewhere attended the ceremonies.
A tank carried Mr Niyazov's coffin away from the palace and to the village of his birth outside Ashgabat, where he was buried.
Flags in Turkmenistan are flying at half-mast for a week of mourning, shops and restaurants were closed and New Year celebrations have been cancelled.Flags in Turkmenistan are flying at half-mast for a week of mourning, shops and restaurants were closed and New Year celebrations have been cancelled.
Our correspondent says that during two decades of rule, Mr Niyazov turned himself into the only man who mattered in Turkmenistan. During two decades of rule, President Niyazov wielded absolute power and fostered a cult of personality around himself and his family.
He wielded absolute power and fostered a cult of personality around himself and his family. He was accused of jailing or exiling his political opponents, creating no functioning political institutions and leaving no obvious successor.
But his legacy is grim, our correspondent says: he jailed or exiled his political opponents, created no functioning political institutions, and left no obvious successor. He erected golden statues of himself, banned beards and ballet and renamed January after himself and April after his mother.
The cult of personality he created was one of the most elaborate the world has seen.
He erected golden statues of himself, he banned beards and ballet, and renamed January after himself and April after his mother.
Ruhnama, the book he wrote, became the cornerstone of Turkmenistan's education and legal systems. Reading it regularly, Mr Niyazov told his people, would secure them a place in heaven.Ruhnama, the book he wrote, became the cornerstone of Turkmenistan's education and legal systems. Reading it regularly, Mr Niyazov told his people, would secure them a place in heaven.
His pictures were on display at all street corners, his political opponents were either in jail or exiled, and he formed the basis of the system he had created.His pictures were on display at all street corners, his political opponents were either in jail or exiled, and he formed the basis of the system he had created.