Road fatalities in Türkiye climbed during the first six months of 2006, with 2,270 people killed in traffic accidents, according to Security Department spokesman Ismail Caliskan. Speaking at a Friday press briefing, he noted that both the number of fatal crashes and the overall death toll grew compared to the same period in 2005, rising 2.4 percent and 3.7 percent respectively.
Caliskan said nearly a third of all crashes involved lorries or trucks, and that 42 percent of accidents happened between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. Istanbul recorded the highest city-level count at 188 incidents, followed by Ankara with 126 and Antalya with 90.
On other matters, Caliskan said he had no information about a criminal investigation into anonymous SMS messages that had targeted General Yasar Buyukanit shortly before his appointment as chief of the General Staff. Regarding Saudi businessman Yassin al Qadi, he stated that al Qadi last entered Türkiye on 28 August 2001 and departed three days later, and has not returned since.
Caliskan also addressed the upcoming soccer season, saying authorities had penalized 1,253 fans for hooliganism over the past two years and were committed to curbing stadium violence.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in August 2006, in its own words.