Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov became acting president of oil-rich Turkmenistan in December 2006, following the sudden death of its long-standing president Saparmurat Niyazov.

Berdymukhamedov has now become the new president of Turkmenistan, following the first contested elections on 11 February.

He faced what was widely seen as token competition from five other candidates from the only registered party, the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan.

Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov was born in 1957 in the village of Babaarap in the Ashgabat Region of the former Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic.

Although little information is currently available about his early life, it is known that he graduated from the dentistry faculty of the Turkmen State Medical Institute in 1979, later completing his PhD in Medical Sciences in Moscow.

Berdymukhamedov began work as a dentist in 1980, and in 1995 became head of the dentistry center of the Turkmen Ministry of Health.

At the same time he was appointed associate professor and dean of the dentistry faculty of the Turkmen State Medical Institute; he subsequently became President Niyazov's personal dentist. ----------Health reforms

It was not until December 1997 that Berdymukhamedov became a public figure, when he was appointed Minister of Health. In April 2001, he was also named Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers.

Although his time as minister was fairly uneventful, Berdymukhamedov made the headlines once in April 2004, when President Niyazov decreed he would not be paid for three months because workers in Turkmenistan's state healthcare sector were also not being paid.

Later that year, Berdymukhamedov was responsible for implementing Niyazov's reforms of the health service, which many observers have blamed for its near collapse.

One of the most controversial of these decrees ordered the closure of all hospitals, except those in the capital Ashgabat and in some major regional towns, the sacking of 15,000 healthcare workers and their replacement with untrained army conscripts. ----------------Succession

In spite of his ministerial positions, however, observers were surprised when Berdymukhamedov was appointed acting president of Turkmenistan after Niyazov's sudden death from a heart attack on 21 December 2006.

Under the Turkmen constitution, the post should have gone to Owezgeldi Atayew, the chairman of the supreme representative body of power, the Halk Maslahaty, or People's Council.

Berdymukhamedov told state TV that Atayew had been sacked after a criminal investigation was opened into his activities.

Berdymukhamedov's position was further strengthened on 26 December 2006, when an extraordinary session of the Halk Maslahaty amended the constitution to allow the acting president to run, along with five other candidates, for the presidency on 11 February 2007.

The Halk Maslahaty also revised constitutional requirements in order to block the candidacy of the exiled Turkmen opposition, and that of Niyazov's son Myrat, a Vienna-based businessman.

At the same session of the Halk Maslahaty, the chairman of the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums, Myrat Garryyew, said he would "do everything" he could to ensure Berdymukhamedov won the February poll "because he is a worthy candidate". -------------Promises and pledges

Upon taking over as acting president, Berdymukhamedov promised to continue with Niyazov's main policies. He has also pledged to introduce some reforms, including unlimited access to the internet, better education and higher pensions.

Amidst these developments, several international media sources reported widespread rumors that Berdymukhamedov had come to the fore because he was Niyazov's illegitimate son, pointing out a striking physical resemblance between the two men.

Others suspected that the unsubstantiated allegations were circulated to legitimize Berdymukhamedov's succession claims.

Berdymukhamedov enjoys the support of many key people in Turkmenistan, not least the head of the State Security Council, Gen Akmyrat Rejepow, who was also Niyazov's chief bodyguard.

His victory, observers have suggested, was a foregone conclusion. (Source: BBC)