Bush raises issue of journalist's death with Putin

WASHINGTON, Oct 10 (Reuters) President George W Bush raised with Russian President Vladimir Putin the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya and Putin told him her death was a blow to Russia, the White House said today.

Bush and Putin spoke by phone yesterday about North Korea's reported nuclear test, but the first few minutes of the call dealt with the journalist's execution-style slaying in Moscow on Saturday, White House spokesman Tony Snow said.

Snow said Putin told Bush ''the murder was a personal tragedy and a blow to Russia and raised questions about a free media and security for journalists.'' Politkovskaya's funeral was held today. She had reported human rights abuses in Chechnya and described Putin as a cynical liar.

Snow said Putin told Bush the journalist ''did a lot of reporting about Chechnya and that her death was also a blow to the leadership of Chechnya. He said her death did the leadership more harm than her reporting did,'' Snow said.

Putin promised a thorough investigation, told Bush it was not clear so far who was responsible, and said he had also not forgotten the case of Paul Klebnikov, an American who was editor of Forbes Russia when he was shot to death two years ago.

REUTERS DH RAI0222