Turkey: Missing US Tourist 'Found Dead'

A missing New York City woman has been found dead in Istanbul, according toTurkey's state-run news agency.

The Anadolu Agency reportsthat residents discovered the body of a woman in a low-income district.

It adds that police later identified it as that of 33-year-old Sarai Sierra, based on her driver's licence.

Ms Sierra, a mother of two, was last heard from on January 21, the day she was due back home. She had travelled to Turkey alone on a two-week holiday.

In its report, the private NTV news channel said Ms Sierra was stabbed to death. The report also said authorities arrested nine people in connection with her death.

Police in Istanbul would not immediately confirm the report.

Turkish police last week released CCTV footage of Ms Sierra eating alone at a shopping centre cafeteria near her hostel in the Taksim area of the city and walking around the mall.

Her husband and brother had travelled to Istanbul to help the search effort.