Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov created a new commission that will make it harder for former government officials to slip out of the country, the state newspaper announced Wednesday. The commission will be headed by Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and will include representatives from the Ministry of National Security, the border guards, the Interior Ministry and parliament, Neutral Turkmenistan reported. Its creation follows an alleged assassination attempt against Niyazov that authorities claim was organized by opposition figures, many living outside of the country, in a bid to seize power. Among those already convicted in connection with the Nov. 25 attempt are two former foreign ministers and other senior officials. Critics claim Niyazov staged the shooting as a pretext to crack down on opponents. Meanwhile, the government also announced the creation of a new state service to register foreign visitors. All foreigners entering Turkmenistan will have to pay a US$10 fee and will be required to register their permit within three days. The government will track foreigners\' entrance and exit from Turkmenistan, the newspaper reported. Niyazov said that Turkmenistan\'s Communications Ministry together with an Israeli firm, Merhav, are leading a tender to set up the computer systems for the new service, Neutral Turkmenistan reported. Niyazov has created a cult of personality around himself, erecting statues of his likeness, putting his portrait on the national currency and naming cities, palaces, mosques and airports after himself. He has ruled this impoverished but energy-rich Central Asian nation since 1985, when Turkmenistan was still part of the Soviet Union. (AP)