Turkmen meeting may offer clues to who takes power

ASHGABAT, Dec 25 (Reuters) Delegates headed to Turkmenistan's capital today on the eve of a meeting likely to offer clues to who will take power following the death of the nation's authoritarian leader.

Buses carrying members of the Halk Maslakhaty (People's Assembly) from across the ex-Soviet Central Asian state poured into Ashgabat a day after the city came to a standstill for the funeral of President Saparmurat Niyazov.

The death of the man who held absolute power for more than two decades has plunged the gas-producing country of 5 million into uncertainty. But there are some signs that Acting President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov may assume power permanently.

''You would imagine that he would be the main candidate,'' a diplomat in Ashgabat said. ''The signs are of a stable transition, which looks promising for the immediate stability of the country.'' Niyazov crushed all dissent and modelled his security apparatus on the Soviet KGB, leaving few Turkmens willing to express views in public.

Little information has emerged from the new Security Council which has taken decisions since his death last week, and it is unclear whether a new president would wield similar power or whether institutions might undergo change.

Niyazov himself proposed changes.

Last year, he told the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe that he would step down in 2009. Real power, he said, would shift to the head of the Halk Maslakhaty, a job Niyazov also held along with that of prime minister, commander-in-chief, and head of the only political party.

One artist who did agree to speak, said: ''Everything's decided already. Berdymukhamedov is the new leader, they just need to complete the formalities.'' SETTING ELECTION, CHOOSING A CHAIRMAN It was not clear whether the Halk Maslakhaty, made up of 2,500 national and local government figures and village elders -- all of whom served at the grace of Niyazov -- would make any decision beyond setting a date for an election.

It will have to elect a chairman, a figure who will wield power over the process of nominating presidential candidates.

Yesterday's funeral of the man who proclaimed himself Turkmenbashi the Great, or Leader of All Turkmen, and then applied the name to streets, towns, banks, buildings and even a brand of vodka, suggested that Turkmenistan's acting rulers plan at least for now to maintain his cult of personality.

Thousands of Turkmens for the first time saw the sumptuous white marble interior of the presidential palace as they filed past his coffin. More stood in silence as his funeral cortege made its way to a mausoleum outside the city.

For those who stayed home, all three television channels broadcast the funeral live and have since shown repeats.

Although Niyazov's death has offered the possibility of the country opening up a little, the new authorities, backed by the army and key ministers, have done little beyond vowing to pursue Niyazov's policies and respect existing gas contracts.

''The acting government will naturally fall back on the spine on the previous government, which was the security forces,'' the diplomat said.

US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, who attended yesterday's funeral, said the United States wanted to offer Turkmenistan ''a new beginning''.

The diplomat said the foreign community hoped Turkmenistan would reform, move towards democracy and curtail human rights abuses, but added: ''At the moment, that's just an aspiration.'' One Ashgabat resident said Niyazov's passing did offer a glimmer of hope for change. ''It's like being a marathon runner who has crossed the finish line and can at last draw breath,'' he said.

''Though to be honest, I don't know if we won or came last.'' REUTERS MS PM1942