'God's gift' to Turkmenistan asked to stay on for life

Turkmenistan’s highest legislative body today rejected President Saparmurat Niyazov’s proposal to hold presidential elections in 2009 and asked him to stay in office for life.

The People’s Council – an assembly of more than 2,000 top officials and elders hand-picked by Niyazov to legitimise his most crucial decisions – has not made a final decision, but the request is a strong indication that the autocratic leader could remain in power until he dies.