Once a Soviet apparatchik, Niyazov took the title of "Turkmenbashi (Head of the Turkmen) the Great" and had thousands of portraits and statues of him set up throughout the country.

They include a statue in gold leaf that rotates to face the sun in the capital Ashgabat. He renamed the month of January after himself and his name was also given to a sea port and even a meteorite.

Niyazov's health had long been the subject of speculation among Turkmenistan-watchers and foreign investors. After heart surgery in 1997, he quit smoking and ordered all his ministers to follow suit. He had publicly admitted to heart problems.

Flags flew at half-mast on Thursday from public buildings in Ashgabat, a Soviet city grandly reconstructed to showcase Niyazov's power.

Workers removed all New Year decorations from the streets and television ran still images of a national flag in a black-bordered frame as an orchestra played solemn tunes.

Some could barely remember a time when Niyazov, known as Turkmenbashi (leader of the Turkmen), had not been in charge -- Niyazov became head of the Soviet-era Communist party here in 1985.

Murad, a 27-year-old businessman, said the country had suffered a terrible blow.

"I felt awful when I heard on the television. We have suffered a loss. We feel we ourselves have been orphaned," he said, alluding to Niyazov's own orphaning in early childhood -- much mythologised in his poetic texts.

"I'm in shock," said civil servant Annagul Byashimova as she visited Ashgabat's Russian bazaar, where stall-holders followed the news of the death on state radio and television.

State television in Turkmenistan is always distinguished by a golden profile of Niyazov displayed in a corner of the screen, but on Thursday an extra black border had been added, framing the images of news readers clad in black and funereal music played by black-clad performers.

"It's so unexpected -- I can't believe it! I've been sitting in front of the television crying. What will we do now?" demanded Byashimova, 36.

Pensioner Ovez Baimukhamedov, 59, said she too was stunned.

"I can't believe it -- that this could happen," she said, quickly adding: "In Muslim tradition if a person dies on a Thursday it's a good day and he will be considered a saint".

Once a Soviet apparatchik, Niyazov took the title of "Turkmenbashi (Head of the Turkmen) the Great" and had thousands of portraits and statues of him set up throughout the country.

They include a statue in gold leaf that rotates to face the sun in the capital Ashgabat. He renamed the month of January after himself and his name was also given to a sea port and even a meteorite.

Niyazov's health had long been the subject of speculation among Turkmenistan-watchers and foreign investors. After heart surgery in 1997, he quit smoking and ordered all his ministers to follow suit. He had publicly admitted to heart problems.

Flags flew at half-mast on Thursday from public buildings in Ashgabat, a Soviet city grandly reconstructed to showcase Niyazov's power.

Workers removed all New Year decorations from the streets and television ran still images of a national flag in a black-bordered frame as an orchestra played solemn tunes.

Dakle,

Nekadasnji sovjetski aparatčik, Nijazov je sebe proglasio za "Velikog Turkmenbašija" (Oca Turkmenske nacije) i preplavio zemlju svojim portretima i spomenicima.

Medju ovima je i pozlaćeni spomenik u glavnom gradu Ašgabatu koji je tako napravljen da je stalno okrenut suncu. Promenjen je i naziv za mesec januar, tako da se sad taj mesec zove po njemu. Njegovo ime je dato i jednoj luci pa čak i jednom meteoru!

O zdravstvenom stanju Nijazova se dugo nagadjalo medju profesionalnim posmatračima i investitorima u turkmensku privredu iz inostranstva. 1997. je bio podvrgnut operaciji srca nakon koje je prestao da puši, što je naredio i svim svojim ministrima! Nije krio svoje teškoće sa srcem.

U četvrtak su sve zastave u glavnom gradu (koji je preuredjen u sovjetskolm stilu kao živi grad-spomenik poglavaru) bile na pola koplja.

Uklonjene su sve dekoracije za Novu godinu, a državna TV preko celog dana emituje samo sliku zastave, uokvirenu u crno, uz prigodnu muziku.