When Turkmenistan’s President Niyazov died in 2006, it was the end of an eccentric personality cult. His successor promised to open the state up but today the gas-rich nation is still an enigma.

A summit of Caspian Sea leaders due to meet in March to discuss sharing the region's vast oil and gas resources has been postponed until April, Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov announced Monday.