US offers Turkmens new chance after leader's death

ASHGABAT, Dec 24 (Reuters) The United States said today it wanted to start a new era in ties with Turkmenistan following the death of Turkmen leader Saparmurat Niyazov.

The United States criticised Niyazov for human rights abuses during his 21-year autocratic rule. But Niyazov's death on Thursday could herald fresh beginnings for Washington as it vies with Russia for influence in the gas-rich country.

Assistant US Secretary of State Richard Boucher, in Turkmenistan to attended Niyazov's funeral, said he met acting president Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov earlier in the day.

''I came from the United States, from Washington in order to express our condolences to the people of Turkmenistan and express our hope for a new beginning in our relationship,'' he told reporters.

''Whatever one thinks of President Niyazov, the people of Turkmenistan are going through a period of uncertainty ... I thought it important to convey at this time that we were open to the possibility of a new beginning.'' Niyazov left no designated successor to lead the state which, lying on some of the world's biggest gas reserves, had snubbed both Russia and the United States under his rule.

But to facilitate the military deployment that toppled the Taliban administration in 2003 in Afghanistan, on Turkmenistan's southern border, Niyazov authorised Washington to use its airspace.

Boucher said it was too early to say how the interim government might respond to the US offer of a new beginning.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov was also in town, but it was unclear what he discussed with Turkmen officials.

Turkmenistan, which shares borders with Iran and Afghanistan, sells most of its gas through Russian gas monopoly Gazprom which controls its export routes.

''Our view on energy in this region is that people should be able to take advantage of all their opportunities,'' Boucher said. ''Our interest is in seeing these countries establish their independence and exercise their independence by making choices.'' Boucher said he supported expanding Turkmenistan's existing pipelines and building new export routes.

Turkmenistan has sent around 40 billion cubic metres of gas through Gazprom's pipelines to Ukraine this year.

Gazprom hopes to raise Turkmen supplies to 60-70 bcm in 2007 and 70-80 bcm annually from 2009 to 2028 to shore up its own reserves, but it remains unclear what will happen to these and other energy plans under the new leadership.

As well as supplying Ukraine, Niyazov was planning a gas pipeline via Afghanistan and Pakistan to India and another to China, marrying Beijing's desire to secure energy reserves with the advantage of diversifying away from Europe.

REUTERS DKA PM1800