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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan (AP) - Turkmenistan's authoritarian leader called for building a 130-foot-high pyramid in the middle of the capital to mark the Central Asian nation's independence from the Soviet Union 15 years ago, a government-run Web site said Friday.
President Saparmurat Niyazov has budgeted $4.5 million to erect the stone structure, to be decorated by statues of eagles, fountains and gilded bas-reliefs depicting "steps of Turkmenistan's independence and major successes of the country," Turkmenistan.ru said.
The pyramid will be topped with a cube made of stained glass with Niyazov's personal flag inside, its construction to be completed by Oct. 27, when the poor, desert nation will celebrate its independence.
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