■ THAILAND
Anti drink-drive success
The New Year's anti drink-driving campaign, which has seen officials take to the motorways dressed as the Thai god of death, appears to be having an effect. Fatalities are down 14 percent on last year, the national road safety center said in a statement yesterday. It said 179 people had been killed and 2,131 injured from Thursday through Saturday. Those numbers were down from 208 people dead and 2,353 injured in the same period last year. Throughout last month a campaign was waged against drunk drivers, with gimmicks such as officials dressed in a red sarong as Matjurat, the Thai death god, handing out cautionary leaflets on motorways. Of the incidents reported, 47 percent were caused by drunk driving while nearly 25 percent were because of speeding.
■ TURKMENISTAN
Gone, but not forgotten
The government said yesterday that it will build a new monument to late president Saparmurat Niyazov, keeping alive the vast personality cult the authoritarian leader developed during his 21-year rule. The new monument will be built in the capital, Ashgabat, state TV said. It will be unveiled on Feb. 19, Niyazov's birthday, which is also celebrated as Day of the National Flag.
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