KAYSERI - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said late on Saturday that news about release of some of the eleven Turkish special team members in northern Iraq were not true.
When reporters asked whether or not Turkish soldiers who had been detained by U.S. forces in northern Iraq were released, Gul said, ''no, those news are not true. We have been following it. A few minutes later, I will hold a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell again, he will telephone me. We hope that this would not last long. We hear that television channels had been making reports and some political parties had been mating statements on this event. Everybody should know that we have been following the developments hour by hour. Every necessary thing has been carried out. As Turkey, we have been launching all necessary initiatives both in Ankara and Washington. I spoke to the U.S. Secretary of State at midnight. They are celebrating their independence day and they will be on holiday for two-three days. However, we told them that it was very serious and it would not continue in this way.''
When asked whether or not Turkish soldiers were still under detention, Gul said, ''actually, we have eleven-twelve personnel there, this is what I can tell you at the moment.''
(MS-UK) 05.07.2003