ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan — He has outlawed opera and ballet and railed against long hair and gold teeth, but now the authoritarian president of Turkmenistan is determined to wipe out another perceived scourge: lip syncing.

President Saparmurat Niyazov has ordered a ban on lip-syncing performances across the tightly controlled Central Asian nation, citing "a negative effect on the development of singing and musical art," the president's office said yesterday.

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

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

Niyazov has led the former Soviet republic for 20 years, issuing decrees regulating behavior in all aspects of life.

In 2001, he banned opera and ballet as not corresponding with the national mentality. Last year, he called for young people not to get gold tooth caps and urged a crackdown on young men wearing beards or long hair.