DUSHANBE, December 21, Asia-Plus - Book of Condolences will be open at the Turkmen Embassy in Dushanbe on December 24 for the members of the diplomatic corps, government officials and well wishers to record their condolences, according to the Turkmen Embassy in Dushanbe.

Saparmurat Niyazov died of a sudden cardiac arrest, it was announced.  His funeral is set to take place on December 24 in the capital, Ashgabat.

Deputy Prime Minister Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov was named head of the commission handling the funeral, state television said.

Last month, the Turkmen president publicly acknowledged he had heart disease.