Turkmen Superstar

Here's another story... About Turkmenistan!

Turkmenistan's idiosyncratic President, Saparmurat Niyazov, has found an unusual way to spread his message - by sending his writings into space.

Part One of the Ruhnama was blasted off on a Russian Dnepr booster rocket from Kazakhstan's Baykonur launch site on Wednesday, local media said.

People are obliged to read Mr Niyazov's book, an interpretation of Turkmen history, for moral guidance.

Known as Turkmenbashi, or Turkmen father, he has ruled from Soviet times.

Sounds like a regular Qaddafi/Mao/Jong Il to me.