Turkmen People's Assembly opens to discuss future

ASHGABAT, Dec 26 (Reuters) A congress of more that 2,500 delegates of Turkmenistan's People's Assembly opened today to discuss who will succeed authoritarian leader Saparmurat Niyazov.

A Reuters correspondent inside the vast congress hall said the delegates, some wearing traditional woollen hats, stood to sing the national anthem under an imposing portrait of Niyazov to open the session.

Acting President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and other officials sat on green chairs on a raised platform, leaving a central, gilded chair symbolically unoccupied. Defence Minister Agageldy Mamedgeldyev and other top officials were also present.

The constitution bars the acting head of state from running for the presidency. An agenda distributed to participants of the congress included a point about changing the constitution as well as setting the election date and selecting candidates.

REUTERS MS HT1610