Radio Liberty says reporter died in Turkmen jail

ALMATY, Sep 14 (Reuters) Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty today said its correspondent in Turkmenistan had died in jail after she was imprisoned for illegally possessing weapons.

Ogulsapar Muradova was sentenced to six years in jail in a trial Western rights groups said was part of President-for-Life Saparmurat Niyazov's clampdown on press freedom and dissent.

''They (relatives) told RFE/RL's Turkmen Service that security officials summoned them to the morgue today to identify Muradova's body,'' the US-funded broadcaster said on its Web site.

''The time and circumstances of her death were not immediately clear.'' Turkmen officials declined to comment on the statement.

Most opposition activists and reporters have been driven into exile or jailed in Turkmenistan, an ex-Soviet country where Niyazov tolerates no dissent and enjoys a personality cult.

Western rights groups have said Muradova, like the other two people who were jailed with her, faced a risk of torture.

Muradova, 58, was jailed alongside Annakurban Amanklychev of a French production company and human rights advocate Sapardurdy Khajiev, according to Paris-based Reporters Without Borders.

Niyazov goes by the official title Turkmenbashi the Great and has had a city, months, days of the week and even a celestial body named after himself or close relatives.

REUTERS LL HS2039