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.
Hu's message, on behalf of the Chinese government and
people, expressed "deep-felt" condolences on the death of Turkmenistan's
President Niyazov and "sincere" sympathies to the government and people of
Turkmenistan and the president's family.
Niyazov, 66, died early Thursday of a heart attack.
Hu said in the message that President Niyazov was an
"intimate" friend of the Chinese people and had made an "outstanding"
contribution to the friendly and cooperative relations between China and
Turkmenistan.
"His death was not only a great loss for the people
of Turkmenistan but also means that the Chinese people have lost a sincere
friend," said Hu.
China attaches great importance to the relations with
Turkmenistan and cherishes the traditional friendship between the two countries,
he said in the message.
Hu stressed that China respects the development path
chosen by the people of Turkmenistan.
China is willing to work with Turkmenistan to
continue developing the friendly and cooperative relations between the two
countries, he said.
Deputy PM named Turkmenistan's interim
president
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.
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.
