Terrible Turkmen

Move over, Kim Chong-il!

There's a much more amusing megalomaniacal president-for-life on the world stage: Saparmurat Niyazov, known to his people "Turkmenbashi the Great."

Niyazov has banned beards, gold teeth and the circus. He has also renamed the month of January after himself and created a public holiday to celebrate the cantaloupe.

Terrible Turkmen

Move over, Kim Chong-il!

There's a much more amusing megalomaniacal president-for-life on the world stage: Saparmurat Niyazov, known to his people "Turkmenbashi the Great."

Niyazov has banned beards, gold teeth and the circus. He has also renamed the month of January after himself and created a public holiday to celebrate the cantaloupe.