AH- Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that, the suicide attack, which was committed on Tuesday in front of the Turkish Embassy to Baghdad causing 3 employees of embassy to be injured, was not related to the decision of the parliament including dispatch of Turkish soldiers to Iraq.

Erdogan said that, the suicide attack was the continuity of terrorist attacks in Iraq and that it aimed at preventing the positive developments in Iraq.

PRESIDENT SEZER: I DON`T FIND RIGHT TO MAKE A COMMENT WITHOUT KNOWING REASON OF ATTACK

AA - Replying to questions of reporters at Ankara`s Esenboga Airport prior to his departure for Malaysia, Sezer said, ``unfortunately, a vehicle exploded in front of our Embassy in Baghdad. Some people were injured. It was earlier reported that some people died. I don`t find it right to make a comment before knowing its reason.``
     When a journalist said the attack was described as a threat to Turkey, Sezer said, ``Parliament gave permission to government on dispatch of soldiers to Iraq. Our government will evaluate this permission in details. Giving permission should not be evaluated as sending soldiers by all means.``
     When another journalist said General Staff had very serious preparations, Sezer said, ``permission was given. Government will evaluate this issue. It may use the permission or not. This is under discretion of government.``
GUL CALLS TURKISH AMBASSADOR IN BAGHDAD PAKSUT

Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul called on Tuesday Turkish Ambassador in Baghdad Osman Paksut and asked how their health conditions were and whether or not they needed anything after the attack on Turkish Embassy in Baghdad.
     Gul, who is currently in Malaysia to attend the 10th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), spoke with Paksut by phone after the attack on the Embassy and received information about health condition of Paksut and other personnel of the embassy.
     Gul expressed his wishes for quick recovery to Paksut and asked whether they needed anything. 
ATTACK NEAR EMBASSY CAUSED FINANCIAL DAMAGE IN BUILDING

Turkish Ambassador in Baghdad Osman Paksut said on Tuesday that suicide attack in front of the Embassy caused big financial damage in the building.
     Paksut said that the bomb explosion shattered all windows and caused some cracks in the building and stated that the garden wall collapsed and computers were not working and baths were unusable.
     Stating that the building was not appropriate for working, Paksut said that there were many things to do in the building. He said that a decision on how restoration would be made and whether they would move to another building could be taken with the government.
     Paksut said that they cut off electricity in the building as electricity system was damaged and it could cause fire.
     Paksut said that three embassy employees were slightly injured due to iron pieces which spread around in the attack.
     Stating that after the attack, American officials came to the Embassy and expressed their sorrow over the attack, Paksut said that American officials proposed to help them and soldiers took tight security measures around the building.
     Paksut said that it was not possible now to give a name on which organization was responsible for the attack and stated that they did not take a direct threat. He added that but this incident was the price of Turkey`s using its importance as it was an important country.
     Paksut stressed that such attacks were earlier staged in Iraq including the attack on the Imam Ali mosque in Najaf, the U.N. headquarters and Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad and said that this was undoubtedly the work of circles who did not want Iraq to stand up as a normal, stable and democratic country.

ONE OF EMBASSY PERSONNEL IN SERIOUS CONDITION

Embassy officials said three people from the Embassy personnel were wounded, stating that one of them was in serious condition.
     Main entrance gate of the Embassy was demolished after the bomb in the car exploded.
     Extraordinary security measures were taken in and around the Embassy after the attack. All the roads leading to the Embassy were closed to traffic.
HEAD OF IRAQI GOVERNING COUNCIL ALLAWI CONDEMNS ATTACK ON TURKISH EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD

Iyad Allawi, the head of the Iraqi Governing Council, on Tuesday described attack on Turkish Embassy in Baghdad as a terror attack, stating that they would mobilize all the forces to find those responsible for the attack.
     Allawi, currently in Malaysia to attend OIC meetings, replied to questions of Turkish journalists.
     Allawi said they considered attack in Baghdad as terror attack, and that they condemned it.
     Allawi said this was an attack toward a friendly and neighboring country.
     When asked whether or not he talked to Turkish officials after the attack, Allawi recalled that he was in Malaysia, and that officials in Baghdad talked to Turkish officials.
     When asked whether or not the attack was a kind of message to Turkey who decided to send soldiers to Iraq, Allawi said he did not think so, noting that the target of the attack was to further deepen current problems in Iraq.
     Replying a question which asked their recent attitude toward dispatch of Turkish soldiers to Iraq, Allawi said talks continue on this issue, but that they have not yet reached a decision.
     When Allawi was reminded the proposal of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul for formation of Islam Peace Force for Iraq, Allawi said they would welcome Islam countries but that they did not want more foreign soldiers. He said the soldiers should come under the command of the United States and umbrella of the U.N.
     (AY)    14.10.2003