Ashgabat, April 4, 1997 - Turkmenistan's President Saparmurad Niyazov is pursuing his harsh criticism of top officials over what he terms the "intolerable situation" brought on by widespread corruption and rising crime.
Our Ashgabat correspondent reports Niyazov yesterday focused on the armed forces and security services. He said it is those in top positions who are to blame, because, they accept bribes.
Niyazov said top officials are also responsible for food shortages in Turmenistan's military and other irregularities in the armed forces.
Niyazov this week fired the country's chief prosecutor, saying the failures of law enforcement officials have led to Turkmenistan's unprecedented crime and corruption.