Turkmen President Elected Head Of Nation's Single Party

State television said today that President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov's election on August 4 as leader of the Democratic Party further consolidates his power in the gas-rich Central Asian state.

Berdymukhammedov was elected earlier this year to succeed longtime autocratic leader Saparmurat Niyazov, who died in December.

Berdymukhammedov also was named on August 4 as the leader of the Galkynysh (Revival) political movement, which includes the unions, as well as youth, veteran, and other organizations.

There were no other candidates.

(AP)