Powell Calls Gul On Phone

ANKARA - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell called Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul on the phone late on Saturday and gave information about detention of Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq.
Powell said that a total of 24 detainees including Turkish soldiers were sent to Baghdad while the remaining people were released.
He said that the detainees were in good condition.
Noting that they esteemed relations between Turkey and the United States, Powell said that they would try to resolve the problem till the end of the weekend.
Meanwhile, Gul requested Powell to resolve the problem as soon as possible.
Pointing out that the problem could harm Turkey-the United States relations, Gul said that the Turkish public opinion was extremely sensitive about the issue.
(UK-MS) 06.07.2003