Central Asia

Turkmenistan: Niazov Charm Offensive

Promotion of foreign minister Rashid Meredov to deputy premier seen as part of government effort to reposition itself internationally.

22 Feb 05

Patients in the Aksy region are "giving blood" as the price of leaving hospital.

22 Feb 05

Campaigners see proposed end to capital punishment for women as important step on road to death penalty moratorium.

22 Feb 05

Impoverished Uzbek women are finding it so hard to get by that they are abandoning their children.

22 Feb 05

Amnesty for Muslim radicals overshadowed by terms of pardon and violent treatment of relatives.

22 Feb 05

President appears to be taking advantage of West’s focus on Iraq to renew pressure on the media.

22 Feb 05

Poor health controls and cash shortages have led to brucellosis-infected meat being offered for sale across the republic.

22 Feb 05

Hold-up in delimitation process blamed for failure to clear mined frontier region.

22 Feb 05

How long will pro-US Tashkent tolerate Russian broadcasts critical of American bid to topple Saddam?

22 Feb 05

Bishkek concerned that use of Manas air base against Iraq could endanger Kyrgyzstan.

22 Feb 05

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