ANKARA - One of the two Turkish men who hijacked a Turkish Airlines plane to Italy on Tuesday is a convert to Christianity and a conscientious objector and is seeking the pope`s help for his cause, the NTV television news channel reported.
The hijacker, identified as Hakan Ekinci, was not protesting against the pope`s planned visit Turkey next month as intially reported, NTV said. It did not source its report.
NTV said Ekinci, who converted to Christianity in 1998, had previously written to the pope, telling him his story and asking for help.
10/03/2006 18:08 GMT