NATION SHOCKED BY MURDERS OF BIBLE PUBLISHERS IN MALATYA
Assailants yesterday killed three people, including a German citizen, at a publishing house distributing Bibles in the eastern province of Malatya. Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said, "No matter what the reason is, we hatefully condemn this savagery." Aksu called the attack an "attempt to deal a blow to the atmosphere of peace, stability, and tolerance." The initial official statement concerning the attack came from Malatya Governor H. Ibrahim Dasoz, who said both the judiciary and the police were working on the case. In related news, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the attack in Malatya "savagery," adding that some were caught as suspects but the real murderers were trying to be found. Stressing that a German citizen was also killed in the attack, Erdogan said that this expanded the aspects of the event. The premier added that all efforts aimed at finding the murderers as soon as possible. /All papers/

REACTIONS TO MURDERS OF BIBLE PUBLISHERS IN MALATYA
Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis yesterday called the attack in Malatya "brutality" and said that he sharply condemned the attack. In a written statement, Davis said that they were horrified by this attack, which seemed to have been carried out through religious reason and they condemn it. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said, "I sharply condemn this barbarous event. Reasons of this event should completely be revealed." The Anatolian Representative of the Papacy said that the attacked publishing house wasn't Catholic, adding, "It's probably a Protestant or an Orthodox publishing house. We're in a difficult and dangerous atmosphere in Turkey." /Cumhuriyet-Hurriyet/

DEPUTY PARLIAMENT SPEAKER DINCER PASSES AWAY
Deputy Parliament Speaker and main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Bursa Deputy Ali Dincer, who was taken under treatment in intensive care unit of Ankara's Ibni Sina Hospital on Monday, passed away yesterday. His death was due to infection caused by lymphoma. Funeral services for Dincer will be held today. A ceremony will be held in Parliament at 11:30 a.m., and will be followed by a funeral service in Ankara's Kocatepe Mosque at noon. Dincer will be laid to rest in the capital's Karsiyaka Cemetery. /All papers/

AKP'S MKYK GIVES FULL AUTHORITY TO ERDOGAN TO MANAGE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PROCESS
The ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) Central Decision-Making and Executive Committee (MKYK) convened yesterday and gave Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan full authority to manage the process of upcoming presidential election. During the eight-hour meeting, Erdogan listened to the views of 50 MKYK members concerning the process and his possible candidacy. Speaking afterwards, AKP's deputy leader responsible for media and promotion Edibe Sozen said that the members of the board had stressed that the process has been managed well to date and stability and peace have not been damaged, adding that the members unanimously gave authority to Erdogan to manage and finalize the process. Also speaking after the meeting, Erdogan reiterated that the deadline for declaring the presidential candidate was April 25 midnight. "We discussed the issue at MKYK and continue to evaluate it till the last moment," added Erdogan. /Turkiye/

TODAY'S CABINET MEETING CANCELLED
Today's Cabinet meeting was postponed since President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan would hold their regular weekly meeting and since Erdogan would attend the funeral ceremony of CHP Deputy Ali Dincer who died yesterday. The Cabinet which was needed to convene on Tuesday was postponed to today. /Turkiye/

GUL TO MEET WITH GREEK FM BAKOYANNIS IN BELGRADE
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is due to travel to Belgrade today to attend a meeting of Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) and meet with Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis. During their meeting, Gul and Bakoyannis will discuss a number of issues, including Turkey's European Union membership bid, Cyprus issue, and regional issues. Serbia hosts 16th meeting of BSEC Foreign Ministers' Council. Gul had to cancel his visits to Athens twice, in December and in late March, due to a political chill between the two countries. /Sabah/

BUYUKANIT: "TURKISH AIR FORCES NEVER VIOLATE GREEK AIRSPACE"
Chief of General Staff Gen.Yasar Buyukanit, currently in Thessalonica, Greece to attend the First Balkan Countries Regional Conference, yesterday said that Turkish planes would never violate Greece's airspace. Upon a question by a Greek journalist about the dogfights over the Aegean Sea, Buyukanit said, "Turkish and Greek perception of the FIR line isn't the same. Turkish Air Forces never violate Greece's airspace. They fly over the international air space of the Aegean. When planes enter the international airspace, they pass over the FIR line. FIR line isn't the sovereignty space of a country." /Aksam/

MUMCU MEETS WITH SEZER TO SEEK WAYS FOR JOINING FORCES BEFORE GENERAL ELECTIONS
Opposition Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) leader Erkan Mumcu yesterday met with Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer to seek ways for cooperation in November's general elections against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Speaking afterwards, Mumcu said that there was no reason for DSP not to participate in the cooperation process between his party and the True Path Party (DYP). "Deceased Former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit wasn't intolerant about such cooperations," said Mumcu. "Our priority is to protect the state, which is under danger." For his part, Sezer said that he agreed with Mumcu about the fact that the state was under danger, adding that joining forces could be helpful to overcome Turkey's problems. Later, Mumcu visited Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli to evaluate recent political developments. /Milliyet/

US' MCCORMACK OPPOSES TURKISH CROSS-BORDER OPERATION
US Assistant of Secretary of State for Public Affairs Sean McCormack said on Tuesday that they were attaching importance to the territorial integrity of Iraq. Upon a question if they were opposing any invasion of Iraq by neighboring countries, mainly Syria, Iran and Turkey, McCormack said, "...Now, there have been some tensions recently -- invade Iraq. There have been some tensions recently between Turkey and Iraq, and what we are doing is trying to have the Turks, have the Iraqis work together to resolve those tensions. We understand that these tensions emanate from activities of the PKK. It's a terrorist organization and it poses a threat to Turkish citizens as well as Turkish officials, and that threat needs to be addressed. The best way to address that threat is for Turkey and Iraq to cooperate so that you don't get to the point where parties are considering cross-border actions." /Aksam/

TUSIAD TO MEET REHN
A delegation from the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) chaired by Chairwoman Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag is expected to meet European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn in Brussels today. /Star/