Turkmenistan president gives son ministerial post

ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan: Gas-rich Turkmenistan’s all-powerful leader has appointed his son minister of industry and construction, state media reported on Saturday -- -- a role that will involve overseeing the reclusive country’s most lucrative building projects.

State newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan published a copy of the presidential order which said that President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov had appointed 38-year-old Serdar Berdymukhamedov minister of the new ministry "created on the foundations of the industry and communications ministry."

The industry and construction ministry will also oversee the state agencies in charge of air, road and water transport as well as communications, according to the order, which relieved Berdymukhamedov junior of his previous job as governor of Ahal region.