Soz to represent India at Niyazov's funeral

Soz left for Turkmenistan's capital Ashgabat on Saturday afternoon to attend the funeral on Sunday.

Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz will represent India at the funeral of Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov who passed away on Thursday.

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Soz, who has been nominated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to represent the country, left for Turkmenistan's capital Ashgabat on Saturday afternoon to attend the funeral on Sunday, official sources said.

Niyazov, who ruled the gas-rich country for 21 years, died in Ashgabat at the age of 66.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday sent a condolence message to acting President Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov expressing condolences over the demise of Niyazov.