ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 26, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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FLOODS KILL A PERSON, SIX MISSING
Torrential rains flooded dozens of homes and streets in southern Antalya province, killing one person and sweeping away six others. Agricultural fields were inundated. The flooding was due to heavy rains that started Wednesday and was mainly concentrated in Antalya. One man was electrocuted as he tried to remove water from his flooded greenhouse. Six others were swept away by the floods and were feared dead. The flooding is expected to continue through Friday.

POLICE FIND 500 KG OF EXPLOSIVES
Police have found 500 kilograms of explosives prepared to be used in possible terrorist attacks in operations in Kanarya, Dudullu and Zeytinburnu districts of Istanbul. Police detained members of organization and suicide bombers who awaited order of Gurcan Bac, mastermind of the organization. The explosives, including the powerful military explosive RDX, were found during searches conducted in three districts. Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler who earlier said that he would make very important statements will hold a press conference on suicide bombers who were captured.

A ROCKET HITS WALL OF TURKISH EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD, NO CASUALTIES
A rocket hit the wall of Turkish Embassy in Baghdad during a series of attacks which were staged in Baghdad, Iraq on Thursday morning. There were not any casualties.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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SERDAR DENKTAS SURPRISES EVERYBODY
Serdar Denktas, the leader of the Democrat Party (DP) in TRNC said that ''we favour discussion of Annan plan's provisions one by one. But if its framework is discussed, it means its philosophy will be accepted. TRNC President Rauf Denktas is right in saying that the philosophy of the plan is deficient.''

ANKARA: ''KURDISH CONSTITUTION CAN'T BE ACCEPTED''
Ankara will fight for rejection of the draft constitution of Kurds in Iraq. Turkey will try all kinds of ways to prevent the acceptance of the draft as the latter ignores all ethnic groups except Kurds and Arabs in Iraq. The most important initiative of Turkey in that regard will be that of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who will meet with U.S. President George W. Bush on January 28.

ATTACK ON TURKISH EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD
Turkish Embassy in Baghdad was attacked by a rocket yesterday. A bomb was also found near the Embassy. No body was injured or died in the attack, which caused damage in the outside wall of the Embassy.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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FLOOD IN ANTALYA: TWO PERSONS DIE, FOUR MISSING
Torrential rains caused panic in southern Antalya province. One farmer who tried to discharge the water caused by flood and one bulldozer driver died. Four persons are still missing and at least 100 sheep perished.

SEZER APPROVES BANKING LAW
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer approved yesterday the law which foresaw acceleration of the collection of money from bankrupt banks. The law also foresees many regulations including seizure of the assets of bank owners of bankrupt banks.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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AL QAIDA CELL IN TURKEY REVEALED
Harun Ilhan, who was brought to Istanbul after being captured in Konya with six other people, announced that the suicide attacks in Istanbul were planned two years ago. Ilhan, who is one of the top members of the Al Qaida cell in Turkey told police that they earlier planned to attack a passenger ship which would come to Turkey, but they gave up that idea as things didn't go well. Therefore, it was revealed that Al Qaida was behind the attacks in Istanbul.

GREEK CYPRIOT LEADER PAPADOPOULOS: I WON'T SIGN ANNAN PLAN
While the pressure on TRNC President Rauf Denktas to make him sign Annan plan continues, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos said he was not ready to sign Annan plan and resort to referendum about the plan as the issue of Turkish soldiers was not clarified. Meanwhile, EU which intensified its pressure on Ankara will send its two important officials to Ankara: Prodi and Verheugen will be in Ankara between 15-16 January.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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CICEK: ''WE HAVE BECOME REPUBLIC OF PRIVILEGES''
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek criticized concessions which were made on legislation, judiciary and executive organs and said that they should launch initiatives to make the issue as in European Union (EU) countries. Cicek said that they should take necessary steps on immunity dossiers in the parliament.

POLICE CONFISCATE 500 KG EXPLOSIVES IN ISTANBUL
Police confiscated 500 kg of explosives prepared to be used in possible terrorist attacks in Istanbul. Security teams confiscated the explosives in Zeytinburnu, Umraniye and Kucukcekmece districts. The large amount of explosives were reported to be prepared by an organization, which was included in the formation of Al Qaida in Turkey, to be used in new activities. Police also found powerful military explosive RDX during searches conducted in three districts.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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ERDOGAN: LET'S SORT THIS OUT
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the number one issue on the agenda of Turkey was not the issue of parliamentary immunity. ''Using this as an issue of wearing out politics is very shameful,'' told Erdogan to reporters. Erdogan said that his party requested the opposition party (CHP) to appoint three deputies to parliamentary adjustment commission to discuss the issue of parliamentary immunity. CHP leader Deniz Baykal said in his part that the approach of Erdogan in the issue was not convincing.

AGENDA IN TRNC: TRANSFER OF DEPUTIES
TRNC President Rauf Denktas said that ''we heard that some deputies who would resign would firstly be independent, and later they would join the party which would offer the highest amount of money to them. I hope these rumors are not true.'' Denktas stated that in such a case how those deputies would look at the face of the people. Denktas also said that he favoured the foundation of a broad-based government in TRNC.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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EU STANDARD TO IMMUNITY
The government will surprise Turkey by taking a step on immunities. The government decided to bring 112 immunity dossiers including dossiers on four ministers and 52 deputies of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) to the Parliamentary General Assembly. AK Party government aims to bring European Union (EU) standards to deputy immunity. According to legal arrangement which will be made, deputies will not be exempted from some crimes such as traffic offences.

FLOODS IN ANTALYA, SEVEN MISSING
Heavy storm and rainfall which have been continuing in southern province of Antalya for three days paralyzed daily life and traffic in the city and its vicinity. Seven people are missing due to torrential rains. Many houses, working places and touristic facilities were inundated due to heavy rainfall.

(Öª-EÖ-AÖ) 26.12.2003