ANKARA - Eleven Turkish soldiers who were detained in Suleymaniyah, the north of Iraq, by U.S. soldiers and taken to Baghdad were released late on Sunday.
Ankara had launched initiatives in the highest level on Saturday after 11 Turkish soldiers, including three officers and 8 non-commissioned officers, were detained by around 100 U.S. soldiers who raided Turkish Special Force Bureau in Suleymaniyah.
It had been claimed that soldiers were detained upon news that ''some Turks planned to assassinate Kirkuk governor.''
TURKISH SOLDIERS REACH SULEYMANIYAH
Eleven Turkish soldiers and 13 civilians came to Suleymaniyah at 7.15 a.m. local time on Monday.
The group who came to Suleymaniyah by three U.S. helicopters are now in communication office of Turkish soldiers.
Foreign Ministry representative in Communication Office in Silopi said that military equipment had also been returned.
Eris said, ''our friends and equipment have been given back. U.S. officials expressed their distress over the incident in our contacts yesterday.''
A committee would be formed by Turkish and U.S. officials and the incident would be investigated, Eris added.
Turkish officials started to count the returned equipment.
Meanwhile, it was learned that there was a British businessman named Michael Todd among the detainees.
It is noted that the businessman who is currently in Baghdad would be released when British officials came.
It is stated that the businessmen was detained when he was walking around during the incident.
(BRC-AÖ) 07.07.2003