Turkey's Dogan to sell 5 newspapers - report

ISTANBUL, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Turkish media mogul Aydin Dogan, who is embroiled in a dispute over a record tax fine, is to sell five of his newspapers to Germany's Axel Springer (SPRGn.DE), the Aksam daily reported on Tuesday.

The newspaper did not specify a source for its report.

Dogan's media group Dogan Yayin (DYHOL.IS) said in late October it was seeking new partners or the sale of stakes in subsidiaries in the face of a 4.8 billion lira ($3.3 billion) tax fine.

The sale of the five papers - Milliyet, Vatan, Posta, Radikal and Fanatik - would leave the group with only the Hurriyet newspaper, alongside its television and other media interests.

Dogan was not immediately available to comment on the report.

Dogan says the government has singled out the company for its critical coverage and the European Union, which Turkey wants to join, has criticised the penalty. The government says it is purely a tax matter and not politically motivated.

Dogan Yayin, which controls half of Turkey's private media, is due to meet Finance Ministry officials on Nov. 24 to discuss the fine which has raised concerns about freedom of the press in Turkey. (Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Erica Billingham)