Moscow/Ashghbat, Turkmenistan - Turkmenistan's South Yolotan-Osman gas fields have been found among the five largest reserves in the world in an audit by British Gaffney, Cline & Associates (GCA), Russian business daily Kommersant reported on Wednesday.

"The company's audit has confirmed statements made by Turkmen officials that had been initially met with skepticism," the newspaper wrote.

The Central Asian state now sells most of its gas to Russian export monopoly Gazprom, but confirmation of the huge reserves may make possible state officials ambitions to develop other export partners - west to Europe and east to China.

Moscow/ Ashghabat, Turkmenistan - The president of the Central Asian state of Turkmenistan Tuesday ordered the creation of an anti-terrorist unit after weekend clashes in the capital.

President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov confirmed that security officers were killed, but without saying how many, in overnight fights Saturday.

Independent websites and Russian media cited up to 20 dead and said the clashes were between security forces and Islamic rebels.

New Delhi, Apr 5 : India and Turkmenistan on Saturday signed a historic pact to open avenues for bilateral cooperation in the Hydrocarbon sector.