Tajik Opposition Leader Said Abdullo Nuri Dies

Said Abdullo Nuri (left) was a key figure in ending the war against the government of President Imomali Rakhmonov (right) (ITAR-TASS) DUSHANBE, August 9, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Said Abdullo Nuri, the leader of the opposition Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan, died today at his home in Dushanbe after a long illness.

RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports that dozens of party members and supporters are gathering at Nuri's home to pay tribute.

Nuri reportedly traveled several times to Germany for treatment of what was believed to be cancer.

Nuri was one of the leaders of the armed opposition during Tajikistan's civil war in 1992-97.

He joined President Imomali Rakhmonov's coalition government after the 1997 peace agreement, chairing its national reconciliation commission.

Nuri was born in March 1947 in the Komsomolabad district of Soviet Tajikistan.

MORE: Coverage in Tajik from RFE/RL's Tajik Service.