ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer harshly condemned on Saturday ugly attacks on innocent people in Istanbul staged in a period when there was need for peace and tranquility.
A statement of Presidential Press Center said that Sezer expressed deep sorrow over death and injury of many citizens in two explosions that occurred in Istanbul in the morning.
The statement noted that Sezer harshly condemned that ugly attacks on innocent people staged in a period when there was need for peace and tranquility.
''Those who are trying to deteriorate the atmosphere of peace in the country will never be permitted. It is my sincere wish not to experience such saddening incidents again,'' Sezer said in the statement.
Sezer wished God's mercy to those who died in the blasts, offered condolences to their families and relatives and wished quick recovery to the injured.
The statement added that Sezer received information from Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler.
ARINC: I CONDEMN TARGETING OF CIVILIANS IN THIS ATTACK ON BEHALF OF HUMANITY
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc on Saturday condemned bomb attacks on two separate places in Istanbul.
Arinc issued a message and said he learned with sorrow that many civilians died and injured in two separate explosions in Istanbul.
Parliament Speaker Arinc said he considered every action against civilians as unacceptable terrorism whatever its target and reason was. He said problems could not be solved through weapons and death.
Arinc said, ''I believe that our government will capture those who are responsible for the attack, and prevent bad intentions which aimed at preventing peace in the country and the region.''
AKSU: WE WILL EVALUATE ALL INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, NOT ONLY THE ORGANIZATION WITHIN THE COUNTRY
Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu, speaking about explosions in Istanbul, said on Saturday that they evaluated all the probabilities.
Aksu said bomb experts and fire brigades continued efforts at the spot.
Stating that an evaluation would be made regarding the two explosions, Aksu said, ''we will evaluate not only the organizations in our country, but also all the international organizations.''
Aksu said the events had not yet become clear, noting that, ''they may have parked the car, and explosions were set off remotely by timers. Parking was not allowed in front of the synagogues. It was possible two cars or pickup trucks could have been driving slowly past the synagogues when they exploded.''
Replying to a question, Aksu said they did not receive any tip off that such an explosion would take place.
VIDEO FOOTAGE OF NEVE SHALOM SYNAGOGUE SHOW THAT EXPLOSIONS OCCURRED IN A RED CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF SYNAGOGUE
Video footage of Neve Shalom Synagogue in Beyoglu district showed that explosions occurred in a red car parked in front of the Synagogue.
Security officials told A.A correspondent that video footage of the synagogue showed that a red car parked in front of the Synagogue in the morning, and that the person who parked the car left the spot.
The footage showed that explosions occurred in this car.
BOMBS USED IN EXPLOSIONS IN ISTANBUL CAN BE PRODUCED BY C-4, TNT OR RDX
Bomb experts said on Saturday that bombs used in blasts in Istanbul could be produced by strong explosives like C-4, TNT or RDX.
Bomb experts said that only strong explosives like C-4, TNT or RDX could cause such a destructive blast.
Experts noted that one of those explosives could be made stronger by using substances like ammonia and potassium phosphate.
Which substance was used in the explosives that caused today's blasts could be understood at the end of examinations, experts said.
Drawing attention that such a destructive attack had never occurred in Turkey before, experts said that C-4 was used in some attacks by fundamental Islamic groups including IBDA/C.
Meanwhile, security officials tightened measures around houses, schools and foundations belonging to Jewish people.
(BRC-AY) 15.11.2003