Acting leader approved to run for Turkmen president
26 Dec 2006 14:17:42 GMT Source: Reuters
(Refiles to add dropped word in first paragraph) ASHGABAT, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Turkmenistan's top legislative body on Tuesday approved acting president Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov as one of more than 10 candidates proposed to run in a presidential election set for Feb. 11. President-for-life Saparmurat Niyazov, who died last week after ruling the ex-Soviet state for 21 years, left no heir apparent. The Halk Maslakhaty, or People's Assembly, proposed placing Berdymukhamedov on the list. Its 2,500 delegates then approved his candidacy unanimously, Reuters correspondents in the hall said. The move makes him a player in the succession to Niyazov although, although under the constitution, he is formally barred from running.
