Turkmen leader Niyazov dies - govt source

ASHGABAT, Dec 21 (Reuters) Turkmen President-for-life Saparmurat Niyazov has died, a government source told Reuters today.

''It happened overnight. The president has died,'' the source said.

He gave no further information.

Niyazov, 66, had been in power in his reclusive Central Asian state -- the second largest natural gas producer in the former Soviet Union -- since 1985 before independence from Moscow.

He tolerated no dissent and enjoyed a flourishing personality cult with thousands of portraits and statues to him throughout the country.

His name has been given to a sea port, farms, military units and even to a meteorite.

A Reuters correspondent in the Turkmen capital said the situation was calm but workers were seen removing New Year decorations from fir trees in the streets.

REUTERS DKA PM1206