Turkmen civil servants told to quit smoking

The authorities in Turkmenistan say they are imposing a smoking ban on all soldiers and civil servants.

They are also banning advertisements for tobacco products and alcohol.

President Saparmurad Niyazov announced in September he was giving up smoking following heart surgery, and would be recommending thatgovernment employees do the same.

Turkmen ministers are reported to have stopped smoking already.

Correspondents say that while President Niyazov enjoys a thriving personality cult in Turkmenistan, the streets of the capital remain full of huge bill-boards promoting cigarettes.

Last month, another Central Asian state, Kyrgyzstan, ordered a ban on advertising alcohol or tobacco.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service