Turkmenistan marks independence anniversary

Turkmenistan has been celebrating the 11th anniversary of its independence from the former Soviet Union, with a two-hour parade through the capital, Ashkhabad.

Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov watched the procession from a balcony overlooking the main square, which included actors performing scenes from Turkmen history.

Named president for life, Mr Niyazov has built a personality cult around himself, and in a speech to mark the occasion, he listed the country's achievements and urged young people in Turkmenistan to read the spiritual guide, the Ruhnama, which he had written for them himself.

The BBC Central Asia correspondent says that the gas-rich but impoverished state is becoming increasingly isolated.

She says access to independent sources of information is limited.

This year the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ranked the state the least advanced of its countries of operation, and said there would be no new loans unless it made progress with democratic and economic reform.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service