Turkmen opposition figure released

The human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has confirmed that a leading opposition figure in Turkmenistan, Nurberdi Nurmamedov, was released from jail following a pardon issued by President Niyazov.

Reports say Mr Nurmamedov - who was sentenced to five years' imprisonment last February on a charge of threatening to murder - left the maximum security prison in Krasnovodsk on December 23rd.

He is now under police surveillance at his home in the capital, Ashgabat.

Amnesty says Mr Nurmamedov was imprisoned because of his criticism of Mr Niyazov.

The BBC Central Asia correspondent says Mr Nurmamedov is one of the few remaining opposition figures still living in Turkmenistan.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service