TURKMEN PREZ BANS LIP SYNCHING

One of our favorite nutballs in the world -- Saparmurat Niyazov -- is at it again.

After declaring bans on ballet and opera, the president of Turkmenistan now says lip synching cannot be tolerated. From The Associated Press:

Niyazov [cites] "a negative effect on the development of singing and musical art," the president's office said Tuesday.

"Unfortunately, one can see on television old voiceless singers lip-synching their old songs," Niyazov told a Cabinet meeting in comments broadcast on state TV on Tuesday. "Don't kill talents by using lip synching ... Create our new culture."

Under Niyazov's order, lip synching is now prohibited at all cultural events, concerts, on television — and at private celebrations such as weddings.

Let's see: ban opera and ballet, then rail against the "negative effect on the development of singing and musical art." Where's Pat Robertson when the world really needs him?