KAYSERI - Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Saturday that Turkey would continue to be determined to fight against terrorism.
Gul told reporters that unfortunately, a terrorist attack was staged against two synagogues in Istanbul on Saturday morning.
''Death toll rose to 16. Almost 100 people were injured in the blasts. Maybe, this is a terrorist incident having international connections. The Interior Minister has gone to Istanbul to investigate the blasts. These are all our citizens. Since it is an attack targeting synagogues, Israeli people are interested in the blasts. Therefore, I spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Shalom by phone. But, it is a new incident for Turkey. Details will be revealed,'' Gul said.
Asked if the explosion would be effective on foreign policy of Turkey, Gul said, ''this has nothing to do with Turkey's foreign policy. Turkey is a country fighting against terrorism. It has fought against many big terrorist activities so far. Turkey will continue to be determined to fight against terrorism. Turkey has always attached importance to international cooperation. I am sure that these explosions will draw attention of surrounding countries and everybody again. None of the countries can fight against terrorism on its own. Cooperation is very important. Therefore, Turkey will continue its determination to fight against terrorism.''
Replying to a question about which terrorist organizations could be named in connection with the blasts, Gul said, ''we are face to face with a different terrorist attack. Necessary investigation will be carried out. All measures will be taken.''
Gul hoped that death toll would not increase.
POWELL TELEPHONES FOREIGN MINISTER GUL
U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell called on Saturday Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on the phone and offered condolences over people who died in blasts in Istanbul.
Diplomatic sources said that Powell spoke to Gul by phone and wished condolences to Turkish people.
ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER SHALOM TELEPHONES FOREIGN MINISTER GUL
Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom spoke on Saturday to Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul by phone and offered condolences following two blasts in Istanbul.
Diplomatic sources said that Shalom telephoned Gul and offered condolences for those who died in two explosions in Istanbul.
Shalom proposed help while Gul thanked for this proposal. Foreign Minister Gul informed Shalom about preliminary information about the two blasts.
Foreign Minister Gul also had a phone conversation with Bensiyon Pinto, the head of the Turkish Jewish Society, and received information about the blasts.
BRITAIN AND GREECE SEND CONDOLENCE MESSAGES TO TURKEY
Britain and Greece sent on Saturday condolence messages to Turkey after two blasts which occurred in Istanbul.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw sent a condolence message to Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul over the two blasts near synagogues in Istanbul.
Diplomatic sources quoted Straw as saying in his message that he was sad about the blasts in Istanbul and wished God's mercy for those who died in explosions.
Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas announced that Athens ''harshly condemned the brutal and horrifying attack in Istanbul.''
Protopapas issued a statement in which he wished condolences to Turkish people and government.
Meanwhile, Council of Representatives of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) expressed sorrow over blasts in Istanbul.
A statement of CRIF expressed deep sorrow over ugly attack on Jewish people worshiping in two synagogues in Istanbul.
The statement called on international community to fight against terrorism and wished condolences to Turkish government and relatives and families of people who died in the explosions.
LORRY LOADED WITH BOMBS BELIEVED TO CAUSE EXPLOSION IN ISTANBUL
Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said on Saturday that a lorry loaded with bombs was believed to cause the explosion in Istanbul.
Aksu, who came to Istanbul after the blast, told reporters that the incident occurred at 9.30 a.m. and said, ''according to preliminary information, a lorry loaded with bombs is believed to cause the explosion. Our investigation continues. We are trying to determine the type of the bomb.''
Surrounding buildings were also damaged in the blast, Aksu stated.
Aksu said, ''according to preliminary reports, 7 people died and 63 people were injured in explosion in Beyoglu while 8 people died and 83 others were injured in blast in Sisli. Meanwhile, one policeman and one security official died in the blasts.''
Asked if there was anybody who claimed responsibility of the attacks, Aksu said that he had not received any information yet.
When asked if there were Jewish people who died in the blasts, Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said that one Jewish citizen died in the explosion in Beyoglu.
Aksu and Guler later went to the spot for investigation.
Meanwhile, replying to questions on a private television channel, Aksu said, ''materials and equipment used by several organizations have been confiscated in our operations so far. We have not received any tip-off regarding such a destructive bomb.''
(BRC-AY) 15.11.2003