ALMATY, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has been named interim president after the death of Saparmurat Niyazov early Thursday, the country's national security council announced.

    Berdymukhamedov, also Turkmenistan's minister of health and medical industry, will fill in as acting president and take charge of arrangements for the late president's funeral, which is scheduled for Sunday, reports from the Central Asian nation's capital Ashgabat said.

    Niyazov, 66, died of a sudden heart failure at 01:10 a.m. local time, Turkmenistan's state television reported.

    The TV report hailed Niyazov, the country's first president, as the founder of an independent and sovereign Turkmenistan.

    State television said that during his rule Niyazov showed outstanding leadership and genius on diplomacy and granted equal treatment to all ethnic groups in Turkmenistan, which contributed to the country's unity.

    Under Turkmenistan's constitution, Parliament Speaker Ovezgeldy Atayev should take up the interim presidency, but he was not appointed because of his involvement in a criminal case, according to Interfax.

    Elections for a new president will take place in about two months, according to the constitution.

    State television also said all of the national principles and political lines drawn up by Niyazov will be preserved and steadfastly followed.

Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov attends a government meeting in Ashgabat in this December 27, 2002, file picture. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    Chinese president offers condolences Turkmenistan's president

    BEIJING, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a message of condolences on Thursday to Turkmenistan's acting President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov over the death of President Saparmurat Niyazov.

    EU hopes for smooth succession in Turkmenistan after president's sudden death

    BRUSSELS, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission expressed the hope on Thursday that the succession process in Turkmenistan would be orderly after the sudden death of President Saparmurat Niyazov.

    Annan pays tribute to Turkmenistan's President Niyazov

    UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday extended condolences to the people of Turkmenistan on the death of President Saparmurat Niyazov and paid tribute to his contribution to UN peace efforts in Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

    Bush expresses sadness over Turkmenistan president's death

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush expressed his sadness over the death of Turkmenistan President Saparmurat Niyazov, National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Thursday.

    Russia hopes for orderly succession of power in Turkmenistan

    MOSCOW, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Russia hopes for a legal succession of power in Turkmenistan following the demise of Saparmurat Niyazov, president of Turkmenistan, who died on Thursday at the age of 66, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

    Pakistani president condoles Turkmenistan President's death

    ISLAMABAD, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has expressed condolences at the demise of Saparmurat Niyazov, president of Turkmenistan, who died on Thursday at the age of 66, the News Network International (NNI) news agency reported.

    State TV: Turkmen president dies

    ALMATY, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov died early Thursday, the central Asian country's state television reported.

    Niyazov, 66, died of a sudden heart failure at 01:10 a.m. local time, the television said.
An official statement broadcast by the television said Niyazov, as the country's first president, was the founder of an independent and sovereign Turkmenistan.