CABINET DECIDES IN PRINCIPLE TO JOIN UN FORCE IN LEBANON
The Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened yesterday. After a three-and-a-half-hour meeting, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek told reporters that the ministers had agreed in principle to send troops to Lebanon in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Stressing that Ankara was closely following developments in the Mideast, Cicek said that Turkey was a country in the region and cannot be indifferent to events nearby. The justice minister stated that before now Turkey has sent troops to 28 different regions of the world to help ensure peace, adding that Turkey's public order and security would never be weakened by its contributing to the UN force as claimed by some. Commenting on President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's recent remarks that he opposed such a mission, Cicek said the president had declared his own views, and that the government respects that, but it sees the matter differently with an eye on national interests. Cicek added that a final evaluation on the matter would be done today and the Parliament, currently in recess, would be summoned for an extraordinary session as soon as possible to debate the matter. /Hurriyet/

AKP CENTRAL BOARD DISCUSSES SENDING TURKISH TROOPS TO LEBANON
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with the ruling Justice and Development Party`s (AKP) Central Executive Board (MYK). During a five-hour meeting, Erdogan told the board members that Turkish troops would not take part in clashes in Lebanon, but rather would be there to keep the peace. Recalling that Turkey had sent troops to a number of countries for help, Erdogan said that Turkey was a powerful country and was acting in line with that. Furthermore, Erdogan said that the AKP group would be informed on the matter and a group decision would not be made, adding that the final decision would be made by Parliament. /Turkiye/

UN'S ANNAN TOURS THE MIDEAST
As part of his tour of the Mideast, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday visited Lebanon. During his talks with Lebanese officials, UN forces to be deployed in the country were discussed. Annan called on Israel to lift its embargo on Lebanon, and also urged Hezbollah to release the Israeli soldiers it abducted. The secretary-general is set to pay a visit to Egypt today, Syria on Thursday and then Iran on Saturday. Furthermore, Annan is expected to arrive in Ankara in the middle of next week to exchange views with Turkish officials. /Turkiye/

NEW CHIEF OF STAFF BUYUKANIT: "PROTECTING THE REPUBLIC ISN'T DOMESTIC POLITICS"
Taking the helm of the General Staff from Gen. Hilmi Ozkok yesterday, Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said that protecting the basic values of the republic, secularism and the unitary structure of the state shouldn't be seen as intervening in domestic politics. Speaking at the handover ceremony, Buyukanit referred to the domestic threats of terrorism and fundamentalism. "These have been present since the founding of the republic, but I have to say that never before have they been so strong," said Buyukanit. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and high-ranking military officials attended the ceremony, in which retiring Chief of General Staff Gen. Ozkok and Gen. Buyukanit both delivered speeches. /Milliyet/

FOREIGN MINISTRY REPORT: "HEZBOLLAH SHOULD SIT AT THE TABLE IN LEBANON"
In a comprehensive new report in the wake of developments in Lebanon and visits to the region, the Foreign Ministry said that Turkey had assumed a mediator role and also underlined that Hezbollah's situation could cause trouble. "To achieve peace in Lebanon, Hezbollah should sit at the table," said the report. About Turkey joining a peacekeeping force in Lebanon, the ministry expressed reservations about the lack of clarity over the framework of the force and its size, how long it will stay in the country, and whether there will be clashes with Hezbollah. /Aksam/

TWO TURKISH WORKERS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN
A Turkish road worker was murdered yesterday in an armed attack on a key highway in southern Afghanistan and a Turkish citizen working for a security firm was abducted in the same attack, said Turkish Foreign Ministry officials. Furthermore, another Turk working at a construction company was also killed in the country. /Turkish Daily News/

EXPLOSION IN ANTALYA KILLS THREE
After Sunday's explosions in Marmaris, a blast in Antalya yesterday killed three people and injured 20 others. "The explosion occurred between motorcycles that had parked in front of a business center," said Antalya Police Department spokesman Akif Aktug. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, and security forces cordoned off the area for investigation. Aktug said that efforts were underway to arrest two people in connection with the explosion, adding that its cause was still unknown. Meanwhile, European Union Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn released a statement condemning the attacks. In related news, British Ambassador to Turkey Peter Westmacott yesterday thanked doctors and other officials for their steadfast efforts after attacks Sunday in the resort town of Marmaris. Westmacott visited the British citizens in hospital yesterday, and also set up a temporary office there to convey information about the condition of patients to the government. /Cumhuriyet-The New Anatolian/