The former Soviet republic of Turkmenistan has banned smoking in all public places.

It's the latest in a series of anti-smoking measures since the president-for-life, Separmurat Niyazov, gave up smoking two years ago.

The BBC Central Asia correspondent says many men in Turkmenistan are heavy smokers -- they'll now face stiff fines if they light up in public.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service