ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on October 15, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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BOMB AIMING AT INTIMIDATION
A bomb attack was staged against Turkey's Embassy in Baghdad. A car loaded with bomb exploded in front of the embassy, causing serious damages in the building. As Turkey was getting prepared to send soldiers to Iraq, Turkish Embassy in Baghdad was rocked by a bomb attack. Suicide bomber died in the attack while ten people, including three embassy employees were injured. The fact that the attack was staged during meeting between officials of Iraqi Interim Governing Council and Turkish Ambassador was striking. Turkish Ambassador to Iraq Osman Paksut said, ''Turkey has made its influence in the region be seen. The bomb attack is the invoice of this.''
ONE AND A HALF HOURS OF TETE-A-TETE MEETING DURING TIME OF ATTACK
Prime Minister Erdogan made a surprise invitation to Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok to meet in a working lunch after the severe statements of the General Staff on the imam hatip high schools which give theological education. And, thus Erdogan eased the atmosphere. The news that a bomb attack was staged on Turkish Embassy in Baghdad was heard during one-and-a-half-hour tete-a-tete meeting of Erdogan and Ozkok. After they heard the news, Erdogan and General Ozkok started to debate dispatch of soldiers to Iraq for the first time.
FINANCE'S TAX OF REVENGE
The government increased the special consumption tax rates taken from cars by 3 and 25 points. These rates caused a rise between 500 million and 13 billion Turkish liras (TL) in prices of automobiles. Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan said, ''it was certain that something like this would happen. Unestimated burden on the country like the Imar Bank caused this rise.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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EXPECTED ATTACK
A bomb attack was staged against Turkish Embassy in Baghdad. The attack did not kill any personnel of the embassy and cause very serious results thanks to security measures tightened after the United States made a warning five days ago. Turkish Ambassador to Iraq Osman Paksut announced that three embassy personnel were slightly injured in the attack.
''WE WILL RE-CONSIDER IT''
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that tension over the arrangement on imam hatip high schools which gave theological education and vocational high schools was inappropriate. Cicek noted that the arrangement would be re-considered. Cicek said that maybe, a sub-commission would be formed under the auspices of the Parliamentary National Education Commission and the draft would be taken up by that sub-commission.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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MESSAGE BY BOMB
As Ankara was getting prepared to send soldiers to Iraq, a suicide attack was staged against Turkish Embassy in Baghdad. The suicide attacker died while ten people, including one Turk were injured in the attack. Car full of explosives which was stopped 25 meters away from the Turkish Embassy for control exploded. The explosion did not cause serious damage in the embassy building but the residence of the ambassador was seriously damaged. Three embassy employees, including one Turk and two Iraqis, and seven Iraqi people were injured in the attack. A group of Iraqis who gathered around the embassy building immediately after the attack chanted slogans in favor of Saddam Hussein. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''the attack has nothing to do with the motion.''
SADDAM SAID 'LET'S SLAUGHTER THE KURDS'
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul responded to the statement that Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari of Iraqi Interim Governing Council made during Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) summit that ''Turkish soldiers should not come to Iraq'' by announcing the ''secret proposal'' of Saddam Hussein which was dreadful. Gul said that former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein called on the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government to ''slaughter Kurds together'' and proposed a great deal of money in return but Ankara did not accept that proposal. It was revealed that the proposal was made by Tariq Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister of the toppled Saddam administration who met with Prime Minister Abdullah Gul before the war. Gul said, ''but now, we have to ask Zebari. Who has kept them standing on their feet for 10-15 years? Who has protected the Kurds for years? Zebari can't give answers of these questions. This is an injustice.'' Gul said that the proposal was rejected by Turkey whenever it was made and asked for Kurds' fidelity.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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INTIMIDATION TO TURKEY
A suicide attack was staged against Turkey's Embassy in Baghdad in which the attacker died and nine people were injured. The Iraqis who oppose to Turkey's dispatch of soldiers to their country took action by an armed attack. The fourth target of the Iraqis was Turkey following the United Nations, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Jordanian Embassy. A car loaded with bombs exploded at the gates of the Turkish Embassy building.
RISE IN SALARIES VERY RIDICULOUS
The rise in salaries of civil servants announced by the government was considered ridiculous and unfair by representatives of public employees. Sami Evren, the Chairman of Confederation of Public Workers Trade Unions (KESK), said, ''we will slow down labor.'' Turkish Public Workers Trade Union (Kamu-Sen) Chairman Akyildiz said that they would not refrain from showing their reactions by some protests.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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PROVOCATION STARTS IN IRAQ
A car loaded with bombs exploded 500 meters away from the gates of the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad. The suicide attacker died while at least ten people were injured in the attack. The Foreign Ministry said that the gravity of the security problem in Iraq had been demonstrated by the attack and added that Turkey was determined to continue its efforts to help Iraq. Upon request of the Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, the Iraqi Interim Governing Council condemned the attack against Turkish Embassy.
THEY BURNED BURGAZADA
The report prepared by Istanbul Municipality on the fire on Burgazada showed that fire started in a few different places at the same time. The report which stressed the possibility of sabotage showed the place where the fire started as Bayraktepe hamlet of the island instead of the garbage area of the island.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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BOMB SAYING ''DON'T COME TO IRAQ''
Threats of Kurdish groups who are against deployment of Turkish soldiers in Iraq since March 21 when the United States launched the operation against this country were turned into action by an attack against our Embassy in Baghdad yesterday. While the Foreign Ministry announced that three people were injured in the attack, international news agencies reported that two people including one Turk died and eight people were injured.
OPERATION IN BRSA
Teoman Kerman, the Deputy Chairman of Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA), was removed from office due to Imar Bankasi investigation.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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BOMBED INTIMIDATION TO TURKEY
Three embassy personnel and six people were injured in a suicide attack staged on Turkish Embassy in Baghdad. The attacker died in the attack. It is said that the suicide attacker staged the attack to intimidated Turkey who was getting prepared to send soldiers to Iraq.
''TURKISH SOLDIERS WILL ENSURE SECURITY, U.S. SOLDIERS WILL STAGE OPERATIONS''
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman said that Turkish soldiers would help ''settle democracy and ensure security and tranquility'' in Iraq. Edelman said that ''U.S. soldiers would stage operations to eliminate terrorist elements.'' Edelman met with parliamentarians who are members of Turkish-U.S. Interparliamentary Friendship Group in a luncheon.
BOMB ATTACK ON AK PARTY BRANCHES
Bomb attacks were staged on Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) Izmir provincial branch and Konak branch at the same time. Nobody died or injured in the attacks while two branches suffered major damages.
(BRC) 15.10.2003