Saparmurat Niyazov, Turkmen Leader, Dies at 66


Originally 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 Ashgabat. He renamed the month of January after himself and his name was also given to a sea port and even a meteorite.

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-turkmenistan.html?hp&ex=1166763600&en=ed6ad3cd89a87b3d&ei=5094&partner=homepage