Erdogan: Developments In Kirkuk Monitored

ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that the developments in Kirkuk were monitored.
''The incidents in Kirkuk have been taken under control, we are informed that one or two persons died during the attacks,'' Erdogan said responding to questions of journalists before leaving for Karabuk.
Noting that the developments were closely monitored both in the U.S. and in Turkey, Erdogan said that the incidents were taken under control in Kirkuk after the intervention.
Erdogan stated that they were informed that one or two persons died in the attack in Kirkuk, adding that all developments were monitored under the leadership of Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.
Erdogan said that ''our friends in Iraq monitor the developments and inform us about them.''
When asked if such kind of incidents would affect the decision on sending soldiers to Iraq, Erdogan said that ''these are issues which will all be evaluated when the right time comes. These issues will be taken up as a whole.''
Upon a question about the demonstration of KESK in Ankara, Erdogan said that ''this is an anti-democratic demonstration. Unfortunately they do their best to make our people uneasy.''
Erdogan stated that Interior Ministry announced the places where NGOs could hold public meetings, adding that ''yet KESK prefers the place where no such meeting is permitted. They try to cause disturbance. Unfortunately the opposition party tries to benefit from this atmosphere. We don't approve it.''
(Öª) 23.08.2003