By Michael Steen

ASHGABAT (Reuters) - Turkmenistan voted for a new president on Sunday in its first contested election, but one virtually certain to be won by an aide to the country's former authoritarian leader who died in December.

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Oddly Enough
1:30PM EST, Sun 11 Feb 2007
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Turkmens vote for leader in first contested poll

Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:02PM EST
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By Michael Steen

ASHGABAT (Reuters) - Turkmenistan voted for a new president on Sunday in its first contested election, but one virtually certain to be won by an aide to the country's former authoritarian leader who died in December.

A European parliamentarian who monitored proceedings said the poll was not free and fair, but echoed diplomats who said it might herald gradual change in the reclusive, gas-rich Central Asian state.

Six candidates were officially vying to replace President Saparmurat Niyazov, who ruled the former Soviet republic for two decades with an iron fist while building golden statues of himself and stamping his image on every part of daily life.

The six all come from his Democratic Party -- the only legal political grouping. All pledged to continue in his steps, but the candidate seen as bound to win was acting leader Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who served for 10 years in Niyazov's cabinet.

Human rights groups have condemned the poll, prompted by Niyazov's death from a heart attack, as a sham that would consolidate ""a new dictatorship"" in the desert nation.

""They may hardly be called elections and they were absolutely not free and fair,"" Portuguese member of parliament Joao Soares told Reuters after visiting polling stations under Foreign Ministry accompaniment.

""But ... the fact that they are at least trying to do something that resembles a free election is a step forward.""  Continued...

 

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