Middle East

Bin Laden Narrowly Escapes Death

Osama bin Laden's intelligence gathering operation appears to have helped him escape a US missle attack on an al-Qaeda base.

21 Feb 05

Poaching scandal threatens to blow up into political row as protected species turns up at Russian airbase.

21 Feb 05

Thousands of people in the Fergana valley take to the streets, some attacking the police sent to disperse them.

21 Feb 05

The economic crisis at home has forced prostitutes to expand their horizons.

21 Feb 05

Washington and Russia are battling for influence over the Central Asian republic

21 Feb 05

Turkmen army food rations are so poor that some young conscripts are literally starving to death.

21 Feb 05

Many diaspora Kazaks lured back home by reports of generous government aid have ended up being bitterly disappointed.

21 Feb 05

Prominent Turkmen and foreigners amongst scores arrested following bid to kill Niazov.

21 Feb 05

Former ambassadors now active in politics are forbidden from running for office because they’ve lived outside the country.

21 Feb 05

A delay in issuing new tamper-proof travel documents causes chaos.

21 Feb 05

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