The president of Turkmenistan today opened a cancer hospital by personally performing the first operation.

The president of Turkmenistan has banned a popular, mildly narcotic form of chewing tobacco, the state newspaper said today.

Turkmenistan is ready to sell some of its vast gas reserves to Europe, a state-run newspaper reported today, quoting the country’s president.

Turkmenistan’s acting president today announced the date for elections to replace the ex-Soviet republic’s late long-ruling dictator will be set next Tuesday.