RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN VISITS TURKMENISTAN

Turkmen President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov (R) takes a symbolbolic loaf of bread for guests to greet Russian President Vladimir Putin (2nd R) in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on May 11, 2007. Putin's visit to Central Asia comes amid increased competition for Turkmenistan's vast gas reserves since the death last year of President Saparmurat Niyazov, who signed deals to build export pipelines to China. (UPI Photo/Anatoli Zhdanov)