Leader to Hand Out New Mercedes Every Year
Wed February 5, 2003 08:54 AM ET
ASHGABAT (Reuters) - Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov, who said
in 1992 that every Turkmen family would own a house and car within a decade,
has delivered on part of his promise -- by giving away free limousines to a
lucky few.
A brand new Mercedes-Benz is on its way to all ministers, committee heads,
regional bosses and other top officials, Niyazov said on state television
Wednesday.
"The cars you received last year are still fairly new. Give them to your
deputies," said Niyazov, known officially as Turkmenbashi the Great.
Turkmenbashi means Father of the Turkmen. Full story