TURKMENBASHI DIED

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[01:03 pm] 21 December, 2006

Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov was the President of Turkmenistan, from
1990 until his death. It was under his leadership that Turkmenistan
declared its freedom from the former Soviet Union. His official title
is "His Excellency Saparmurat Niyazov "Turkmenbashi," President
of Turkmenistan and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers". His
title Turkmenbashi, "Leader of all Ethnic Turkmen" referred to his
position of the founder and president of the Association of Turkmen
of the World.

The State TV Station of Turkmenistan has officially confirmed the
news about Turkmenbashi’s death. .

"At about 1:10 a.m., Saparmurat Niyazov’s heart stopped
beating. President of Turkmenistan died at the age of 67", says the
official report broadcast via all media. According to non-official
sources, "the cause of the death could be the diabetes".

Security Council of Turkmenistan has already convened plenary
sitting. The key issues of the discussion were the country’s stability
and maintenance of discipline.