No successor after Turkmen leader dies

[Viva_La_Revolution]

No successor after Turkmen leader dies


By BENJAMIN HARVEY Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press


ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan — The minister of national security pledged Saturday to preserve calm following the sudden death of Turkmenistan's dictator, as authorities discouraged public activity throughout the capital _ even loud music and children's games.

The 66-year-old Saparmurat Niyazov died from heart failure Thursday without leaving an obvious successor, creating fear of instability in the Central Asian nation, a key energy supplier to the former Soviet Union and Europe.

Lt. Gen. Geldimukhammed Ashirmukhammedov, the security minister, promised in a statement in newspapers Saturday to follow the policies of Niyazov, who banned opposition parties, controlled all media and jailed critics or drove them into exile.

Ashirmukhammedov pledged his Ministry of National Security, Turkmenistan's successor agency to the Soviet KGB, "will day and night stand guard on the achievements founded by Saparmurat Turkmenbashi the Great."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4422910.html

[IDemo]

1. Predicted US response: "Time for purple fingers and black gold!"

Turkmenistan not only has massive natural gas reserves but is a key part of US plans to turn Central Asia into a new energy supplier to the world

ASHGABAT, december 22: The sudden death of Turkmenistan’s president Saparmurat Niyazov has prompted predictions of a power struggle inside the ex-Soviet republic and a fierce contest among world powers coveting the desert nation’s energy reserves.

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/19164.html

[pinto]

2. (aside) Oil and gas basins - Central Asia, map

[annabanana]

3. Just in case there isn't enough fighting in the region...

another big battlefield opens up.
Great.

[sweetheart]

4. Iran is now surrounded by broken states

The circuit is now complete, when the US last attacked iran with kermit roosevelt,
they were but the learners, now iran is the master.

'only a master of evil, darth'

'your powers are weak old man.'

'you can't win darth, if you strike me down, i'll unmask you 2 films hence.'

(darth strikes down old imperial jedi)

Luke (DU): 'obi wan!!'

chorus: 'long live the evil empire'

Darth: 'we will rule turmenistan like the bashi himself.'

Luke: 'I hate you dad.'

Darth: 'i should have paid for an abortion.'

:-)

[bigworld]

5. Lt. Gen. Geldimukhammed Ashirmukhammedov

Great name.