Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on Thursday expressed sorrow over death of Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

Gul told reporters that the whole Turkic world felt great sorrow and he hoped that Turkmen people pass this critical period with discernment and start a new period.

Gul also said that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and himself will attend funeral of Niyazov.

Niyazov, 66, died of a sudden heart failure early Thursday, the central Asian country's state television reported.

Source: Xinhua