Moscow ? The man who unexpectedly became leader of Turkmenistan following the death of Saparmurat Niyazov pledged Friday that new elections will be democratic – but only in the late dictator’s interpretation of the word.

Niyazov, who died Thursday at age 66, outlawed opposition parties and served as president for life. He tolerated no dissent, personally approved the content of all newspapers and had authorities block Web sites critical of his reign.

“National presidential elections will be held on a democratic basis that has been laid by the great leader,” Gurbungali Berdymukhamedov, the acting president, said Friday in a decree.

Analysts predicted a struggle for control both within this arid country, which is rich in oil and natural gas, and between Russia and the West. Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Bush, in separate messages of condolence, both said they wanted to build ties with Ashgabat, the Turkmen capital.